More Reviews

From Chimerical and Alfornos

This one really has some nice things to say abour David.




From: South Florida Sun Sentinel


But it's hard to imagine anyone balking at the casting of sulky-sweet David Duchovny as Vardalos' unwitting love interest. (Her real-life husband, Ian Gomez, plays the club owner, and apparently did not balk at his downgrade.)

This is the first movie since 2000's underrated Return to Me that reminds fans of just how charming Duchovny can be. It's also a good lesson to women everywhere: If you write and star in your own movie, you get to make out with the movie star of your choice.

more from the South Florida Sun Sentinel:


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/movies/sfl-shconnieapr16,0,7708453.story?coll=sfla-movies-utility


Peoole Magazine Review
I don't have web links to these few so I'll have to post the whole thing.


People, April 26, 2004


Copyright 2004 Time Inc.
People

April 26, 2004

SECTION: PICKS & PANS/MOVIES; Pg. 28

LENGTH: 176 words

HEADLINE: Connie And Carla;
Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, David Duchovny, Stephen Spinella

BYLINE: Leah Rozen

BODY:
COMEDY

Maybe it's the over-the-top musical numbers. Or possibly the delighted enthusiasm with which leading ladies Vardalos and Collette ham it up as women pretending to be men pretending to be women. Or that Debbie Reynolds turns up for a campy cameo. All in all, this over-mascaraed drag comedy is a lot more fun than it has any right to be.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Vardalos (see p. 57), who wrote the film, and Collette play best friends in the Midwest who dream of showbiz glory. After witnessing a murder, they flee to L.A., with the killers on their trail. Seeking a disguise, they dress up as drag queens and are hired to perform at a gay club. Before you can say, "May I borrow your falsies?" they have become stars.

The plotting is strictly by the numbers (that number would be Sister Act, with a little Victor/Victoria thrown in) and the characterizations are as deep as a layer of lipstick. But when the gals dressed as guys dressed as divas belt out yet another chorus of "Oklahoma," all is forgiven. (PG-13)

[2 1/2 STARS]

Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) April 15, 2004 Thursday EN28 EDITION


Copyright 2004 Akron Beacon Journal
All Rights Reserved
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)

April 15, 2004 Thursday EN28 EDITION

SECTION: G; Pg. 8

LENGTH: 647 words

HEADLINE: My big fat drag story;
Vardalos crafts another charmer in gender farce 'Connie and Carla'

BODY:
Connie and Carlaoffers an interesting twist on the guys-in-drag story.

It also has other charms that make this comedy an enjoyable escape, despite a couple of predictable scenarios.

Connie and Carla, penned by Nia Vardalos, the mind that spawned My Big Fat Greek Wedding, is consistently amusing with likable performances that help it to rise above other guys-as-girls comedies.

In fact, this is and isn't about guys in dresses. It's actually about women pretending to be guys pretending to be women. (OK, have ya got that? There will be a quiz later.)

And it's within the confines of that story that Vardalos provides laughs without resorting to the lowbrow to get them.

Even more relevant: She shows that her success with My Big Fat Greek Weddingis no fluke. She has crafted a film filled with sensitivity and laughs.

Is it perfect? There are a couple of plot points where you groan (such as the inability of the main characters to keep their mouths shut so they won't get caught witnessing a murder), but they are quickly forgotten. No, it won't win awards or have its sheer genius lauded throughout the land, but it does entertain faaaaabulously.

We meet Connie (Vardalos) and Carla (Toni Collette of The Sixth Sense) as they're warbling show tunes in an O'Hare Airport lounge. The misguided ladies believe their careers are finally about to take off in this little hole in the wall -- until they witness their employer being slain by a mob guy he crossed. Out of sheer shock, they scream, revealing themselves. Obviously, no one ever told them that if you're quiet while witnessing a crime, chances are you won't have to worry about any post-felony entanglements.

But, of course, we wouldn't have a movie then, would we?

Connie and Carla hastily flee their hometown for Los Angeles, where they land at a gay bar that specializes in drag queens lip-syncing bad disco songs and show tunes. Of course, Connie realizes that she and Carla could do much better because they can actually sing.

Faster than you can sing the title tune from Oklahoma!Connie and Carla launch their L.A. careers, slowly building a following in the gay bar. Meanwhile, the mobster's henchman is searching for them in dinner theaters across the country.

They sing. They dance. They give makeup advice to the gay guys they befriend. They also eventually expand their show to include the drag queens in the bar, which is on the verge of being converted to a dinner theater.

Among their friends is Robert (Stephen Spinella), who has been on the outs with his family for years after coming out as a homosexual. Adding a little subtext to the story is the fact that Robert's brother Jeff (The X-Files' David Duchovny) has shown up, looking to mend fences. Some of the movie's most enjoyable moments come from watching as he and Connie become closer and he grows incredibly uncomfortable in the situation. We're in on the joke and we get to revel in the irony of it all.

It's that storyline that makes Connie and Carlaenjoyable and gives it most of its humor. The plot involving the mob guys is almost irrelevant and, personally, I'm glad it doesn't dominate the movie.

Vardalos shows a keen sense of what's funny in her performance and writing. Connie's flirting with Jeff borders on the hilarious much of the time, and her ability to write scenes outside of those moments with him only adds to the enjoyment. For example, check out the part where the men of the club marvel at how utterly real Connie's breasts are.

Director Michael Lembeck (The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause) keeps Connie and Carla breezing along, recognizing that the movie's strength lies with Vardalos, Colette and Duchovny. He plays to it,giving us all an unexpected spring treat.


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