My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Director:

Joel Zwick

Writer (WGA):

Nia Vardalos (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Love is here to stay... so is her family.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | College | Teacher | Love | Travel Agency

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Nia Vardalos	...	Toula Portokalos
Michael Constantine	...	Gus Portokalos
Christina Eleusiniotis	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 6
Kaylee Vieira	...	Schoolgirl
John Kalangis	...	Greek Teacher
Lainie Kazan	...	Maria Portokalos
Marita Zouravlioff	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 12
Sarah Osman	...	Athena Portokalos - Age 15
Petra Wildgoose	...	Car Pool Friend
Melissa Todd	...	Car Pool Friend
Bess Meisler	...	Yiayia
Andrea Martin	...	Aunt Voula
Louis Mandylor	...	Nick Portokalos
Gerry Mendicino	...	Uncle Taki
Stavroula Logothettis	...	Athena
Constantine Tsapralis	...	Foti
Gia Carides	...	Cousin Nikki
Joey Fatone	...	Angelo
John Corbett	...	Ian Miller
Ian Gomez	...	Mike
Jayne Eastwood	...	Mrs. White
Frank Falcone	...	Suitor
Eugene Martel	...	Suitor
Joe Persechini	...	Suitor
Peter Xynnis	...	Suitor
Fiona Reid	...	Harriet Miller
Bruce Gray	...	Rodney Miller
Anthony Kandiotis	...	Priest
Nick Kutsukos	...	Bouzouki Player
Peter Tharos	...	Yianni
Chrissy Paraskevopoulos	...	Cousin Jennie
Maria Vacratsis	...	Aunt Freida
Kathryn Haggis	...	Cousin Marianthi
Gale Garnett	...	Aunt Lexy (as Gale Zoë Garnett)
Charlene Bitzas	...	Aunt Nota
Chris Savides	...	Greek Chanter
Constantine Vardalos	...	Greek Chanter
Scott Khouri	...	Waiter
John Tsifliklis	...	Wedding Singer
Peter Chalkiopoulos	...	Wedding Band Member
Peter Gogos	...	Wedding Band Member
Spiro Milankou	...	Wedding Band Member
Victor Politis	...	Wedding Band Member
Jim Rouvas	...	Wedding Band Member
Arielle Sugarman	...	Paris Miller

Directed by
Joel Zwick

Writing credits (WGA)
Nia Vardalos		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Brooks	....	executive producer
David Coatsworth	....	co-producer
Gary Goetzman	....	producer
Tom Hanks	....	producer
Mark Hufnail	....	co-executive producer
Jim Milio	....	co-executive producer
Melissa Jo Peltier	....	co-executive producer
Steve Shareshian	....	executive producer (as Steven Shareshian)
Norm Waitt	....	executive producer
Rita Wilson	....	producer

Original Music by
Alexander Janko
Chris Wilson

Cinematography by
Jeff Jur		(director of photography) (as Jeffrey Jur)

Film Editing by
Mia Goldman

Casting by
Meg Liberman		(as Liberman)
Camille H. Patton		(as Patton)

Production Design by
Gregory P. Keen		(as Gregory Keen)

Art Direction by
Kei Ng

Set Decoration by
Enrico Campana

Costume Design by
Michael Clancy

Makeup Department
Ann Brodie	....	key makeup artist
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	wig designer: Ms. Martin
Paul R.J. Elliot	....	key hair stylist (as Paul Elliot)
Burton J. LeBlanc	....	makeup artist (as Burton J. Leblanc)
Sandra Reynolds	....	hair stylist
Beatrice Salazar	....	hair stylist (as Beatriz Salazar)
Dorota Zajac	....	makeup artist

Production Management
D.J. Carson	....	assistant production manager
David Coatsworth	....	unit production manager
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Cote	....	trainee assistant director (as Jennifer Côté)
Grant Lucibello	....	second assistant director
David McAree	....	first assistant director
Effy Papadopoulos	....	third assistant director
Lorin Raine	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Brenton Brown	....	on-set dresser
Jacinta Cooper	....	art department apprentice
Rossana DeCampo	....	scenic artist (as Rossana Decampo)
Imre de Jonge	....	assistant property master (as Imre De Jonge)
Katia de Peña	....	property buyer (as Katia De Peña)
Alan Doucette	....	property master
Gary Harmer	....	leadman (as Gary G. Harmer)
Gordon Lebredt	....	graphic artist
Tim Ovans	....	assistant head carpenter
Mark Thomson	....	construction coordinator
Alan Tremaine	....	head carpenter
Martin Weinryb	....	set buyer
Wayne Wightman	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Paul Timothy Carden	....	supervising sound editor
Brian Dixon	....	sound mix technician
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Kimberly Harris	....	adr supervisor
Donald Hauger	....	foley mixer
Thomas Hayek	....	boom operator
Paul Holzborn	....	foley artist
Tom Mather	....	sound mixer
Thomas O'Neil Younkman	....	first assistant sound editor
Geoffrey G. Rubay	....	sound effects editor
Geoffrey G. Rubay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Melissa Hofmann)
Tulio Torrinello	....	sound mix technician
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Mark Wolfson	....	sound recording engineer
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Alfonso Calvo	....	sound dubbing mixer (uncredited)
Jeff Glueck	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects supervisor
Peter Sissakis	....	special effects key (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steve Rundell	....	digital effects supervisor
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging: THDX (uncredited)
Steven Emmert	....	optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)
Adam Howard	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Marco Bianco	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Bacon	....	dolly grip (as Nicholas M. Bacon)
Rod Benjamin	....	key grip
Andy Chmura	....	camera operator
John Colavecchia	....	first assistant camera
Sean Dawes	....	electrician (as A. Sean Dawes)
Cylvan Desrouleaux	....	second assistant camera
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Sophie Giraud	....	still photographer
Greg Grainger	....	company grip
R. Jones	....	electrician
Rod MacNeil	....	electrician
Keith Murphy	....	Steadicam operator
Tom O'Hara	....	company grip
Michael Plant	....	generator operator
Jesse Stanley	....	company grip
Tom Starnes	....	best boy set lighting
Robert Vigus	....	assistant key grip (as Robert A. Vigus)
Victor Vukosavljevic	....	camera trainee
Mark W. Hindle	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Greg Whiteside	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Richard Wilmot	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Luisa Cabbidu	....	extras casting assistant
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Elizabeth Gray	....	casting associate: Canada
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Lisa Ystrom	....	casting associate: USA
Andrea Kool	....	casting assistant: Canada (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carole Costello	....	set costume supervisor
Jay Du Boisson	....	assistant costume designer (as Jay Duboisson)
Jane Flanders	....	costume shop supervisor
Gisella Zomparelli	....	assistant set costumer

Editorial Department
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Heather Persons	....	additional editor
Douglas Slocum	....	apprentice editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Melissa Wegman	....	Bond Co. Post Superviser
Madeleine C. Schnell	....	post-production coordinator: Motion Picture Bond Company (uncredited)

Music Department
Nico Abondolo	....	musician: bass
Deva Anderson	....	music supervisor
Gary Bovyer	....	musician: clarinet
Tom Calderaro	....	music preparation
Jon Clarke	....	musician: oboe and soprano sax
Tim Comstock	....	music assistant
Franklyn d'Antonio	....	musician: violin (as Franklyn D'Antonio)
Bruce Dukov	....	musician: violin
Steve Erdody	....	musician: cello
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Marlo Fisher	....	musician: viola (as Marlow Fisher)
Matt Funes	....	musician: viola
Armen Garabedian	....	musician: violin
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Thomas Graham II	....	score recordist
Endre Granat	....	concert master
Endre Granat	....	musician: violin
Alan Grunfeld	....	musician: violin
Gregory Jamrok	....	scoring supervisor
Alexander Janko	....	conductor: score
Alexander Janko	....	orchestrator
Alexander Janko	....	score producer
Randy Kerber	....	musician: piano
Miran Kojian	....	musician: violin
Aimie Kreston	....	musician: violin
Armen Ksajikian	....	musician: cello
Dimitrie Leivici	....	musician: violin
Phillipe Levy	....	musician: violin (as Phillip Levy)
Rebecca R. Liddle	....	music arranger: piano suite (as Rebecca Liddle)
David Low	....	orchestra contractor
Darrin McCann	....	musician: viola (as Darren McCann)
Ed Meares	....	musician: bass
Victoria Miskolczy	....	musician: viola (as Vicky Miskolczy)
Simon Oswell	....	musician: viola
Dean Parks	....	musician: acoustic guitar
Katia Popov	....	musician: violin
Jeremy Raub	....	co-music editor
Rafael Rishik	....	musician: violin
Delphine Robertson	....	music coordinator
Mark Robertson	....	musician: violin
Mark Sazer	....	musician: violin
Haim Shtrum	....	musician: violin
Sebastian Toettcher	....	musician: cello
Cecilia Tsan	....	musician: cello
Louise Di Tullio	....	musician: flute (as Louise DiTullio)
Michael Valerio	....	musician: bass (as Mike Valerio)
Josefina Vergara	....	musician: violin
David Walther	....	musician: viola
Chris Wilson	....	musician: electric guitar
Ken Yerke	....	musician: violin
Robert Fernandez	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Al Donin	....	driver
Norman Foster	....	driver (as Norm Foster)
Ray Gabourie	....	driver
Bill Hagan	....	transportation captain
John Hiltz	....	head driver
Jeff Peebles	....	driver
Doug Perry	....	driver
Don Retzer	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Brandi Andersen	....	staff: Playtone
Mardie Anderson	....	assistant: Mr. Goetzman
Trudy Artman	....	adr group coordinator
Sebastian Bauer	....	staff: Playtone
Lesia Capone	....	assistant production coordinator
Louise Casey	....	craft service
Don Cornelius	....	assistant location manager
Christopher G. Cowen	....	staff: Playtone
Marco Di Flaviano	....	location assistant
Greg Eby	....	production accountant
Pablo Ferro	....	titles and graphics
Nancy Vardalos Ginakes	....	choreographer
Katharine Gray	....	clearance coordinator
Leah Holmes	....	post-production accountant
David Hutkin	....	vice president: The Lewis Horwitz Organization
Monica Ionson	....	payroll accountant
John Kenyon	....	location manager (as John M. Kenyon)
Helen Lucas	....	stand-in
Amy McKenzie	....	assistant: Mr. Hanks
Lara McMahon	....	set production assistant
John Nelles	....	dialogue coach
Eric E. Paulson	....	production associate
Kostas Petsis	....	choreographer
J.R. Powell	....	set production assistant
Breigh Radford	....	assistant production accountant
JoAnne Rivers	....	production coordinator (as Joanne A.C. Rivers)
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
Marissa Roman	....	financial legal services: Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld L.L.P.
Daniela Saioni	....	script supervisor
Patricia Satok	....	craft service
Tom Tobin	....	production assistant
John Von Atzigen	....	stand-in
David Zikovitz	....	production assistant
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services (uncredited)
Michelle Dunton	....	script researcher (uncredited)
Jeanne Van Cott	....	production executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Jon Anderson	....	in memory of
Eric Brooks	....	thanks
Diana Choi	....	thanks
Josh Clayton-Felt	....	in memory of
Madeline Cripe	....	thanks
Father Paul Drakos	....	thanks
Christine Paulos Dulat	....	in memory of
Alan Hergot	....	thanks
Kirk Saduski	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Gold Circle Films (presents)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (in association with)
• MPH Entertainment Productions (as MPH Entertainment)
• Playtone
• Ontario Film Development Corporation (filmed with assistance from)
• Big Wedding

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2002) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Equinox Films (2002) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2005) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• Egmont Film (2002) (Sweden) (TV)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Hollydan Works (2004) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld  bank legal services (as Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld L.L.P.)
• By David's  catering (as By Davids)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies (uncredited)
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• David A. Steinberg and Associates Inc.  production counsel
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Goldcrest Post Production London  on-line editing
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Legacy Records  soundtrack
• Lewis Horwitz Organization, The  financing
• Liberty Livewire Studios  re-recording services
• Motion Picture Bond Company, The  completion bond
• Pearson Television  clip courtesy: The Price is Right"
• Playtone  soundtrack released by (as Play-Tone)
• R.C. Baral & Co.  post-production accounting
• Sabron Inc.  music payroll
• Signet  re-recording services
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack
• Soundelux  sound supervision and editorial
• Starcraft  craft service
• THDX Studios  photographic effects (uncredited)
• Title House Digital  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Le mariage grec (Canada: French title) (TV title)
Mariage à la grecque (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sensuality and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | Greek

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #38179) | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

According to Nia Vardalos, paying for catering during the film proved not to be a problem. Wherever the film was being shot, whenever local Greek restaurants learned about it, they sent over lots of free food.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Toula sees Ian at the travel agency for the first time, a grey-haired man wearing a blue windbreaker is reflected in the window.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gus Portokalos: [to Toula] You better get married soon. You're starting to look... old!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in When Do We Eat? (2005)

Soundtrack:

Orea Ee Neefee Mas

A simple story about a girl in love.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a very simple, funny romance story that would probably be most appreciated by female audiences.

Nia Vardalos (the film's writer and star) is Toula Portokalos, a quiet young woman from a zany Greek family. As she explains in the great flashback introduction, all her life she has been brought up to be strictly Greek. But, the same upbringing also contains some traditional absuridites that she can't understand, although her parent's wish that she would adhere to. Toula's upbringing has only allowed her to look forward to one thing at this point in her life: get married to a nice Greek boy and have lots of babies.

This is not something Toula wants to here, and eventually, she gains the courage to break out of her introverted shield and gradually change herself into a bold, lovely woman. She stops working at her family's resturaunts and starts taking computer classes at the local college, which lead her not only to a better appreciation for herself, but leads to a job at her aunt's travel agency where she meets Ian Miller (Jon Corbet), and that is where our story begins.

Toula and Ian are in love, really very much so. But, this troubles Toula's mother and father, with her father (Michael Constantine) being more strict in traditional Greek upbringing than her mother (Lanie Kazan), when Ian proposes to Toula. For Toula's father, it is bad enough that she quit the family business to go to school and everything. But it is simply out of the question for him that she marry a non-Greek. So, Toula is torn between the two. This is a movie very much in the spirit of films like Bend it Like Beckham and somewhat like the Joy Luck Club in addressing roles of tradition in future generations of immigrants and the possibility and reason for preservation of such traditions.

Of course the film is a very simple movie, a simple love story, but a funny one nonetheless. We see the contrast between Toula's Greek upbringing, and Ian's very quiet, conservative family. Everyone was fantastic in this film, especially Lainie Kazan as Toula's mom, Michael Constantine as her father, and the wonderfully hilarious Andrea Martin as Toula's Aunt Voula.

I don't know the reason for so many negative reviews for this movie. I would say it was probably the best movie I saw in 2002, and one that I have seen many times since just because it a lovely little (and funny) story about a girl in love.