My Life In Ruins Review

My Life In Ruins - A Fox Searchlight Pictures Release

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/mylifeinruins/

Release Date: June 5th, 2009

Rated PG for language and some sexual content

Running time: 95 minutes

Donald Petrie (dir.)

Mike Reiss (writer)

David Newman (music)

Nia Vardalos as Georgia

Richard Dreyfuss as Irv

Alexis Georgoulis as Poupi

Alistair McGowan as Nico

Harland Williams as Big Al

Rachel Dratch as Kim

Nia Vardalos and the rest of the cast from MY LIFE IN RUINS - a Fox Searchlight Pictures release.

Our reviews below:

_____________________________________________

My Life In Ruins Review By John C.

***

My Life In Ruins may be full of stereotypes and caricatures, but it’s also a perfectly enjoyable and pleasant film. When everyone has been giving this film bad reviews, I’m not quite sure what they were expecting. It’s packaged as what it is, and what you see is what you get.

It follows the story of Georgia (Nia Vardalos) a woman living in Greece. She works as a tour guide, showing people around the ancient ruins and architecture. She is not really happy with her job, and not very popular with the people on the tour bus either. But over the next week it’s all going to change. The people that she thinks she’s stuck with on the bus, may actually teach her something about making friends and falling in love.

It’s filled with clichés (there’s even an obligatory teenage romance), but on the plus side, the cinematography of Greece is very nice to look at. The musical score by David Newman is enjoyable and not overbearing. It’s got a happy ending and everyone seemed to leave the theatre happy as well, and that’s never a bad thing.

Yes, the story is predictable, but with this kind of film it doesn’t really matter. It’s enjoyable, light entertainment and I think audiences are going to love it.

_____________________________________________

My Life In Ruins Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

My Life In Ruins is about a woman in Greece who works as a tour guide, while she is looking for a ‘real’ job, as a University Professor on the History of Ancient Greece. This is what she is trained for, not to talk to tourists who do not show any interest, nor share her enthusiasm in Greek History and Architecture. After doing this for some time, clearly, she is fed up - especially since her tourists find her boring, so she is relegated to the Beta group, rather than the Alpha.

This is a entertaining movie that is lighthearted and fun. Despite it getting bad reviews from some, it really is quite good for what it is. By no means is this an amazing film work, but it’s certainly not bad. More along the lines of a movie such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or even Mamma Mia, the audience that is going to end up going to see this movie are really going to enjoy it. The scenery of Greece is also beautiful.

There is nothing wrong with a movie like this, as I figure it’s nice to just have a little bit of fun watching something that you don’t really have to think about, and can more just watch. If you’ve seen the trailers, and they appeal to you, than you will probably really enjoy My Life In Ruins.

_____________________________________________

My Life In Ruins Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

My Life In Ruins is a funny light comedy about making the best about what life has to offer. The story involves Georgia, a Greek history professor, who after losing her job, now works as a tour guide, bringing tourist to the ancient ruins. Trouble is, the tourists have no interest in learning facts about ancient Greek architecture. They are only interested in collecting souvenirs with Georgia’s rival tour guide, Nico. But over time, as Georgia gets to know the tourists better, she starts to befriend them, and even finds love in a place she didn’t expect. When Georgia decides to look at her life more positively, things start ot go well.

My Life In Ruins is a feel good film, with a lot of good laughs. The scenery is beautiful, and the tourists are delightfully quirky, and very exaggerated in their stereotypes, making for some very funny moments. The whimsical score by David Newman adds just the right feel to the film. This movie is sweet, funny, and has a nice message about happiness. My Life In Ruins is a mindlessly fun movie that will make you smile.

_____________________________________________

My Life In Ruins Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

‘My Life In Ruins’ is a pleasant hour and a half mini-vacation to Greece. This romantic-comedy starring Nia Vardalos tells the story of frustrated tour guide, Georgia. Georgia had been a university professor and after losing her job is forced to work as a tour bus guide in Greece. The tourists assigned to her bus are quirky, sometimes annoying and not at all interested in the historical facts about Greece that as a university professor she loves to share. To top it all off, Georgia is assigned a long-haired, heavily bearded, scary looking bus driver nicknamed Poupi.

Most of the tourist characters in this movie are clichés. The storyline is predictable and the ending even more predictable. However, there is something likable about each of the characters.

My Life In Ruins is also a very funny movie. The audience I watched it with seemed to really enjoy themselves. Sometimes that’s all you really want from a movie - a chance to sit back and watch beautiful Greek scenery, laugh really hard and smile and sigh at the romantic parts.

Nia Vardalos does a nice job playing the lead, Georgia and Richard Dreyfuss is nice to watch as older tourist, Irving.

Overall, ‘My Life In Ruins’ is a nice diversion. I think audiences will enjoy this decently made romantic-comedy. It may not be Oscar material, but it’s nice for what it is. Go ahead and take a mini-vacation to Greece with Georgia, Poupi and the other tourists. Lots of fun.

_____________________________________________

My Life In Ruins Review By Tony

**1/2 (out of 4)

Nia Vardalos is a professor of Greek antiquities working as a tour guide between teaching jobs. Her passion for sharing historical details of Greece’s monuments is unappreciated by tourists who prefer to hang out on beaches, eat ice cream and buy kitchy souvenirs. Her Greek driver Poupi Kakas (Alexis Georgoulis) helps her to loosen up and make her presentations more accessible and with him she gets her kefi (mojo) back.

Though full of stereotypes and clichés, My Life in Ruins is still watchable thanks to charming performances by Vardalos, Georgoulis, and Richard Dreyfuss and the beautiful scenery, shot in Greece and Spain.

_____________________________________________

Poupy (Alexis Georgoulis) and Georgia (Nia Vardalos) share a tender moment - a Fox Searchlight Pictures release.

_____________________________________________

Consensus: A light, enjoyable romantic-comedy that audiences are sure to love. *** (Out of 4)