My Life in Ruins

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An American tour guide in Greece (Nia Vardalos) hates her life and all the ugly tourists in it... until they conspire to help her find her "kefi"-- which is basically the Greek word for mojo.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Alexis Georgoulis, Alistair McGowan, Harland Williams, Rachel Dratch, Brian Palermo, Caroline Goodall, Ian Ogilvy, Sophie Stuckey, Maria Botto, Maria Adanez, Jareb Dauplaise, Simon Gleeson, Natalie O'Donnell, Sheila Bernett, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, Rita Wilson, Ian Gomez

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this movie has the same tone, family-friendliness, light-heartedness, humor, romance, and leading lady, with a totally new story about being half-Greek, and a setting that makes you feel like you've just gone on a nice vacation.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Stereotypes are funny. And it turns out that Greeks using Windex as a cure-all is just the tip of the iceberg, because let's face it, people are stupid.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Even if you don't cry at the magnificent/majestic scenery (inside joke to be enjoyed by those who have already seen the movie), you might still cry at the touching parts of the story.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Since the timing of the release-- amidst the big budget summer blockbusters-- seems to coincide with the strategy used to turn My Big Fat Greek Wedding into a $200 million hit, this one could also have an outside chance of winning the 2009 Summer Sleeper Award, as audiences trickle in to buy tickets because the movies they planned on seeing were sold out.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: You will remember why we all fell in love with Nia Vardalos' "average girl looking for a break" charm, and why you liked her before she did Connie and Carla. (That's not a reference to a lesbian threesome, that's actually the name of a movie she made.) In other delightful acting news, apparently, several of the actors improvised their lines, including two drunk Australians spouting meaningful gibberish that can only be understood by the natives of their land, and a 5 minute monologue about pancakes by Brian Palermo.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: How can you go wrong in Olympia, Delphi, and Athens? If you're one of the few people in the world who still has $1500 in the bank, you'll be booking your airline ticket as soon as you get home from the theater.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The structure of the story is dynamic because despite the fact that it's a predictable romantic comedy, the two lead characters are not each other's love interest. The second lead, Richard Dreyfuss, is in the script for a whole other purpose. Along with the many little details and side stories going on for each of the tourists, this movie ends up feeling like something you haven't quite seen before.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: There are a few inauthentic moments, here and there, you will have to grit your teeth through. Like, for example, I don't think a tour guide, who knows she's going to be walking on ruins all day would regularly wear 4 inch wedge heals to work. And I can't think of any good reason in this day and age for a tourist to purposely throw his mobile phone in a fire. It's easy enough to just turn it off, and by dealing with it that way, you don't lose all your contacts. Because realistically, one day your vacation is going to end, and you might actually need to call your friends and co-workers again. Not to mention the safety factor-- anyone who's seen Taken knows that it's not as safe as it used to be for Americans to travel abroad.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: http://www.moviefone.com/search/my%20life%20in%20ruins/trailers

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The Rocker

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Just as his rock band makes it big, Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson), gets kicked out of the group. Now, 20 years later, he gets a second chance at rock super-stardom in his nerdy nephew's (Josh Gad) high school rock band.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Emma Stone, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Fred Armisen, Howard Hessman, Jane Krakowski

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. I'm going to start right out by taking issue with the marketing campaign, which advertises that it's "The Sleeper Hit of the Summer!" As we all know, the definition of a "sleeper hit" is a movie that did well (past tense), despite the fact that it had no up front hype, and nobody expected it to do any business. So to advertise something as a "Sleeper" when it hasn't even been released yet is egregious! Now, I know that marketing people like to lie to us, but rarely have I felt so violated by it. What do they think we're idiots? Why do I ask such questions-- of course they do!... And while I admit that this insulting marketing campaign is not the fault of the film or the filmmakers, I fear that it could be to their detriment, because while there is nothing inherently wrong with this sweet and somewhat innocuous movie, it's the kind of experience that will be better enjoyed if you temper your expectations up front.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's cute, but coming out in a summer loaded up with incredibly hilarious theatrical comedies, it's hard not to compare it as the lesser of the funny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: If you've always wanted to be a leading man, but were concerned that your face wasn't pretty enough, Rainn Wilson's looks will have you crying tears of joy and hope, as he proves that you don't have to be pretty to play the ingenue, anymore!

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: In my book, Jason Sudeikis gets the award for the most underrated actor on Saturday Night Live. As a good looking guy who's also funny, and with the chops to play either a leading man or a character actor, I'm predicting right here and now that if anyone in Hollywood has half a brain, he's going to blow up-- not only in broad comedies, but also as a romantic-comedy star. It's too bad this prediction relies on someone in Hollywood having half a brain... Oh, well, Jason, you can't win 'em all!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Rainn Wilson is a little more special as Dwight Schrute. Although if by "special" I mean "retarded", then this guy wins hands down. Meanwhile, Josh Gad has some interesting nervous inflections that have him coming off like a more genuine version of Jonah Hill. Watch out, Jonah, there's a new fat kid in town!

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Peter Cattaneo directed The Full Monty, so he'll always have a pass in my book-- which is lucky for him, cuz that's exactly what his work here is: passable.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: They hit all the beats, but like in any pop song, that makes for a somewhat predictable number.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Pete Best, original cast member of the Beatles, is in the end credits as "himself," but I can't for the life of me remember seeing him in the film. If you see him in it, please clue me in by explaining it in the comments below.

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