Connie and Carla (Screening Review)
I had the privilege of seeing Connie and Carla in San Diego this winter and although I did not know what I was going to see (I knew nothing of pretense or plotlines) I wasn’t too excited…it was JUST another screening. However, leaving the theatre after the performance, I was literally blown away by what I had seen! Not only was it a feast for the eyes, but it honestly did not have an un-enjoyable moment in the film.
Nia Vardalos’s second shot at Comedy proved to be most rewarding. She can pull off subtle comedy as well as over the top, knee slapping, side splitting farce as well. She was not only goofy at times, but facial expressions and timing proved to be in her favor. My only real complaint was that I wish the movie had more scenes of the drag queens and her and Collette as opposed to the Duchovny moments. The movie was far too funny to jump back and forth amongst this story line, and although it was cute and provided “down time” from the laughter….it just didn’t “turn my crank”. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t BAD by any means, and it served a purpose, BUT I wanted more of the queens!
I suppose when one invests their own money into a film (she produced it as well) she wouldn’t want to present a “smelly product” The chemistry she felt with co-star Toni Collette shone through in their scenes together and was almost remniscent of Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in Big Business. Vardalos played off of everything Collette gave her and I’m sure if there are any outtake reels, they would be a hoot to see on the dvd (hint hint).
What amazed me the most about Vardalos is not only was she was able to switch the laughter on and off and become serious in quiet moments she shared with Duchovny and Broadway veteren Stephen Spinella, BUT she actually has an amazing voice! Her renditions of Don’t Rain on My Parade, Maybe This Time (from Cabaret) and the medley that her and Collette perform in the airport lounge certainly showcased a hidden talent from both these stellar actresses!
Collette delivered nothing short of what I would expect from her. She was funny, she had the stage presence that we’ve come to expect from her and she certainly nailed her performance as Carla like someone who had REALLY thought hard about what she wanted to do with the character. Cute and Innocent turned into Big and Brassy when she and Vardalos were on stage, but the second they were on their own again, she was almost “little girl-like”, which made her interesting to watch. Collette has been someone I’ve had my eye on since 1994 when Muriel hit the screen. Her American accent is flawless and damn, has this girl got pipes! Watch for her trademark mischievous smile that comes out a few times in the movie, and lets all hope that there is a CD release so I can listen to her over and over again.
David Duchovny seems to be getting a bad rap in these internet reviews and I cant help to wonder if this is because of his many years as Mulder on X-Files. Sometimes Directors are not the only people to type cast, but the legion of fans tend to expect him to keep the same character as well, without giving him the fair chance of seeing the flick first! He put forth a really believable role in this film and I think the chemistry he had with Vardalos was equally as strong as that with Stephen Spinella (his estranged brother). As I said above, These parts of the film were not my favorite, but only because the funny parts left me wanting more!
Speaking of Funny…..the gaggle of gender-benders (as Universal Pictures calls them on their main page) really carry this movie from the second they hit the screen, till the last second of their final number. Alec Mapa and Robert Kaiser are two actors I don’t believe I’ve ever seen before, so I had to check out the Universal Home Page to get their names….but I CERTAINLY want to see more of them….TOGETHER! They really are a modern day equivalent of Laurel and Hardy/Laverne & Shirley rolled into one. They really kept me cracking up throughout ANY scene they were in. Cast as exact opposites (one tall, buff and white the other short, mousy and of Filipino descent) they really were eye candy. Watch for Mapa interacting with Stephen Spinella in the “TIME WARP” to get a gander of good facial expression and timing and watch for Kaiser as the Paul, the Nameless Queen, toss out the biggest laugh line in the movie to Debbie Reynolds at the end of the film!
Stephen Spinella is someone I have the utmost respect for as an actor and I find it hard to EVER criticize his performance in any film. He was the soft spoken, genuinely nice guy that you really felt for in this movie…and honestly carried his part of the storyline forward. Two Tony Awards can NOT be wrong!!!
The only thing I do not understand about this amazing supporting cast was the other ethnic queen (who must be Christopher Logan) and his character. He really didn’t serve a purpose in the films story line…he was just there. At times I had to question why he was there at all….because he certainly didn’t speak too often nor did the camera tend to focus on him alone…ever??? I didn’t like his character because it was so insignificant. If he had been digitally removed, I probably wouldn’t have noticed at all.. I guess he was what you would call CARDBOARD CHARACTER because he served absolutely no purpose and I’d almost forget who he was if they didn’t list him in the database here!
Then lets just talk about Debbie Reynolds….at her age, you’d think she’d be frail and just like the character she played in Albert Brook’s Mother. Not our girl!!! She was as vibrant and as fun as she was in “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” and I enjoyed her visit as herself, thoroughly!
Michael Lembeck did an amazing job in his casting of all roles. I enjoyed how his camera not only focused on the leads on stage, but the comedic reactions of the crowds and other static characters in the film. Color and Sparkles Galore in the background and get-a-load of the background drag queens!!!!
Ruth Meyer (listed as Costume Designer) knows darn well what the camera likes to see and just what works. Sometimes in movies I find that costumes don’t stand out because of lighting and character personality (It really drives me nuts) BUT in this film, I didn’t feel that. The comedy was loud, boisterous and over the top, so were the costumes. Everything made you just want more and you didn’t know where to look next!
Side Splitting Laughter and visual treats are promised to all who view this flick when it hits the screens later this spring. Kudos to Vardalos for her recreation of this classic storyline we’ve seen done in “Sister Act” “Some Like it Hot” “Victor/Victoria” and “We’re No Angels” This interpretation has to be right up there with Sister Act (in my mind) and Here’s Hoping she realizes what she’s got and does a Connie and Carla 2!!!!!
Tom and Rita, if you’re reading this….haul out the checkbooks and get on it right away cuz I’m almost certain this one’s gonna make you some serious $$$$, capitalize on it! I’ve seen it once already, and I’m gonna go see it again and this time, I’m bringing my , 65 year old Mother, my partner and his ex-wife and kids!….cuz its one they’ll all like!