MY LIFE IN RUINS

My Life In Ruins should be renamed to "Stereyotypes: The Movie". It tells the story about an American woman who's big plans of the good life in her family's homeland of Greece are dashed when the only job she can get is as a bus tour guide. The movie follows her with one particular group of tourists who represent the UK, Australia, USA and Italy... each and every one of them a gigantic talking stereotype (the Aussies are never without Fosters cans) and even the Greek characters are Wogged right up for maximum insult. It was written by Nia Vardalos who shot to fame with My Big Fat Greek Wedding. What the hell has happened to her since?? Her subsequent movies have all been atrocious. Once upon a time she fought against anorexic and ditsy role models and now she has become one (she looks ill). Just like her last movie (I Hate Valentines Day) the script is attrocious and the performances are way below par. I was initially excited to see Rachel Dratch and Harland Williams but their talents are wasted. Not even Richard Dreyfus could save the movie. The biggest shame is that this was originally a biographic story written by one of the guys behind The Simpsons but his vision was lost when Vardolos took over... being entirely shot on location at some of Greece's beautiful ancient ruins it all seems like one huge waste of film. If you look hard enough you might find a miniscule amount of charm, but not enough to bother.

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