My Life In Ruins

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres this Friday from Fox Searchlight, director Donald Petrie is and Executive Directors Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks is “My Life in Ruins.

This film tells the story of Georgia (Nia Vardalos), a woman who has lost her ‘kefi’ which is Greek for mojo. While trying to get a job teaching in Greece, she works at a travel agency as a guide for tourists.

Once again she is under pressure by her boss to be more exciting as a guide as her job scores are very low. Her rival Nico (Alistair McGowen) will do anything he can to get Georgia out of the agency and move himself on up.

Feeling at the end of her rope, Georgia once again boards her broken down tourist bus with Group B, which consists of Irv (Richard Dreyfus) the funny old man with a brazen wit, Kim (Rachel Daschel) and Big Al (Harland Williams) as the married couple out for adventure.

Also, on the bus are Lala (Maria Botto) and Dorcas (Shelia Bernette), two divorced women looking for true love, sort of! There is the Tullens’ and their 15-year-old daughter Caitlin (Sophie Stuckey) who would rather be on the beach than in an un-air conditioned bus!

Finally, there is Poupi (Alexis Georgoulis), a Greek bus driver who attempts to change Georgia’s thinking. He tries to show her how to live Greece and not just be in Greece. As the few days adventure moves on Georgia and her busload of tourists go through a change that was more than they bargained for!

FINAL WORD: Who didn’t love Vardalos in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”? That film was a comedy sleeper that didn’t sleep for long. Well, here again is another sleeper that should be awaken!

Vardalos is lovely as Georgia and she has a comedy all her own. She plays Georgia with all the insecurities well but also adds the longing for something exciting and it shows in her face.

Dreyfus is moving and beautiful as Irv. As one of my favorite actors he never fails to surprise me in how far he will reach in a role. Georgoulis is gorgeous as Poupi with a quiet way that reaches the character of Georgia and the hearts of all the women in the audience.

Other cast members include Simon Gleeson as Ken, Ian Oligvy as Mr. Tullen, Caroline Goodall as Mrs. Tullen, Ralph Nossek as Barnaby, Natalie O’Donell as Sue, and Brian Palmero as Marc.

This film has the beautiful and historic scenery of Greece, it has the laughs that come from the heart and it has the love we all want but more often than not fail to see. The story moves along at a great pace and still leaving time to admire the beauty of this ancient country.

If you liked Vardalos in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” then this is the sequel you’ve been waiting for.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “My Life In Ruins” three and a half tubs of popcorn out of five. This is a date film absolutely! It has just about everything except laser blasts! This film has a heart and soul with “awwwww” written all over it.

Take a vacation and fall in love with Greece with “My Life In Ruins”.