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Even though summer is the season of Hollywood blockbusters, nothing draws a crowd like a wedding.

Over the last five months, one movie has traveled an unconventional path toward the top of the box office. My Big Fat Greek Wedding opened on about a hundred screens and started a wave of big fat word-of-mouth raves—the best kind of publicity. On Labor Day, it reached number one. This astonishing success has baffled industry analysts and earned quite a profit. Cost: $5 million. Box office totals: more than $82.6 million so far. Perhaps Hollywood has forgotten the strength of such special effects as warmth, laughs, insight, and uplift—virtues hard to find in an action-saturated multiplex.

Where did this unconventional big screen hit come from? The story goes that Rita Wilson—a comedienne, actress, and Greek American—was so charmed by Nia Vardalos's stage show, she talked her husband into producing a version for the screen. When your husband happens to be Tom Hanks, you have some advantages.

This warm-hearted, four-course comedy tells the story of a young woman, Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos), whose pending marriage provokes her Greek family to prepare a traditionally lavish event. As the family learns that her fiancé is not Greek, the differences between the family's expectations and Toula's intentions stir up a scandal. There is an assumption that Toula will follow the traditional path: marry Greek, have Greek children, and work in the kitchen to fill the family bellies.

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) writes, "While My Big Fat Greek Wedding pokes obvious fun at Greeks and some of their idiosyncrasies, it never once turns ugly or mean spirited. At the root of all the jokes and witty observations is a recognizable love and fondness for the characters in the film. Because of this, it is not necessary to be Greek to connect with the story. Familial love is something that is universally understood."

Bob Smithouser (Focus on the Family) calls it "one of the sweetest romantic comedies to come along in some time." Musing on its surprising success, he comments, "Maybe that's because the major studios underestimate the viability of intelligent, character-driven, reasonably clean fare between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Mature audiences want more for their summer dollar than slam-bang action, bathroom humor, and showy special effects. They want well-told stories about interesting people. They want movies with heart."

Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin (Christian Spotlight) write, "The celebration of life presented in … Greek Wedding is a wonderful message of the value of family with its cultural traditions and relationships. Such a message is helpful in defining and celebrating our own family, culture, and religious heritage."

Tom Snyder (Movieguide) calls it "a warm-hearted, often amusing celebration of Toula's family heritage, including its Greek Orthodox Christian background."

Dick Staub says, "This film celebrates family, tradition, and the binding force of religion. The infusion of genuine love bathes this film in a humorous and rare warmth that has an almost healing effect on the audience." He expresses some disappointment at the story's inclusion of a scene in which the couple become engaged while in bed together.

Not in the mood for a Greek wedding? How about a neo-Nazi rally?

The Believer explores the experience of a Jewish skinhead who joins a neo-Nazi group. Actor Ryan Gosling is earning great acclaim for his work as the bitter miscreant who rebels against consumer culture and God. He believes strongly in God, but sees him as manipulative. His only response is to rebel.

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September (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46