My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
Manuel Frangis reviewedApril 15, 2025
I just watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. This movie means a lot to me. I am Greek, and watching this felt like looking into a funhouse mirror of my own family — loud, loving, dramatic, and completely unforgettable. It is one of those movies that makes you laugh because it is true, and it makes you feel something because it gets what it is like to grow up in a world where your culture is everything.
The story follows Toula Portokalos, a Greek-American woman who feels trapped in her family’s expectations. She works at the family restaurant, lives at home, and is constantly being reminded that she needs to get married to a nice Greek boy. Then she meets Ian Miller, who is definitely not Greek, and everything changes. From that moment, it becomes a battle between tradition and love, between family and freedom, and somehow, it stays hilarious the whole way through.
Nia Vardalos wrote and stars in the movie, and she absolutely nails it. She plays Toula with so much heart and subtle humor. You root for her right away. She’s shy, awkward, and stuck — but you can feel her wanting more. The way she grows throughout the movie feels so real. She doesn’t reject her roots. She just wants to live her life on her own terms, and that’s something I think a lot of people can relate to — especially if you grew up in a big immigrant family like mine.
The family scenes are where this movie shines. Michael Constantine as her dad Gus is amazing. Always saying “put Windex on it,” always trying to prove that everything comes from Greek culture, and always so proud of his heritage. He reminded me of so many uncles and papous. Lainie Kazan as Maria, the mom, is strong and funny in her own quiet way, and Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula is an absolute legend. Every family dinner, every chaotic conversation, and every over-the-top comment felt like home to me.
What I loved most is how much love is in the middle of all the noise. The family is overwhelming, no question. But it is never mean. It is all about love, even if it is delivered in the loudest, pushiest way possible. And when Ian tries to fit in, you feel the tension, but you also see how the family tries — in their own way — to welcome him in. That part hit me hard because it reminded me of how my own family acts when someone new joins the mix.
The movie is also just really funny. The jokes are nonstop, but they never feel forced. It is everyday stuff made hilarious — like overfeeding guests, asking way too personal questions, and having cousins you have never met show up at everything. It is so specific, and that is what makes it relatable.
I give My Big Fat Greek Wedding 5 out of 5 stars because it is not just a comedy. It is a love letter to family, to culture, and to all of us who grew up feeling like we had to live in two worlds at once. Overall My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a beautiful, heartfelt movie that made me laugh, made me emotional, and most of all, made me proud to be Greek. I saw my family in this movie, and I loved every second of it.