My Life in Ruins - DVD Review

FOX
Street: Oct. 6
Prebook: Sept. 9
> So-so comedy with Nia Vardalos, who works for every chuckle.

This Nia Vardalos comeback vehicle bears more than a passing resemblance to 1969’s similarly themed comedy If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium. Vardalos plays an American tour guide of Greece, coping with a group of international tourists—including a wisecracking Jewish widower (Richard Dreyfuss)—and falling for her hirsute, tight-lipped bus driver (Alexis Georgoulis). The Greek scenery is beautiful, but the gags are just so-so. Vardalos tries way too hard to milk her scenes for humor that just isn’t there, though she’s undeniably adorable. Perhaps some chemistry with Georgoulis would have helped.

Shelf Talk: The star’s breakout success, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which she also wrote), was followed by a TV spin-off that flamed out quickly and the little-seen 2004 comedy Connie and Carla. Among her fans, Ruins stands a pretty good chance of seeing some business. Also target this one to those looking for a sun-drenched travelogue of the Aegean frontloaded with a rom-com narrative.