Destination: Greece

Movie: My Life in Ruins

You would think I would learn. Long ago, in 1982, we had, [amazonify]B0000714C5::text::::Summer Lovers[/amazonify] quite possibly the worst movie ever made in the most beautiful setting in the world, Santorini.  Then last year there was Mama Mia, set on the island of Skopelos. Well, granted a lot of people went to see that and think its just swell, but the reviewers held their noses. And I’m not even counting all the lame attempts at recreating gods and goddesses and heroes of the Odyssey or the Illiad.

Now the lovely and talented Nia Vardalos, of the hysterically funny My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame, gets stuck in an absolute stinker called My Life in Ruins.I am slapping my hand here to keep it from typing some silly take on the ‘Ruins’ word. Instead, I will give you this link to a conversation with Nia at Traveling Mamas site.

The movie’s dialogue is so incredibly lame, (thank you Mr. The Simpsons Writer) that the only person to rise above it is Richard Dreyfuss.

In fact, when the spotlight turns to Dreyfuss in the second act, the movie almost comes to life.  Thank goodness HE is not the one who has to give the name of the bus driver: Poupi Kaka. Funny? When I was in fifth grade.

Does this mean I do not think travelers should see this movie? Not at all.  I heartily recommend that you wait until it is available on DVD, rent it, and watch it with the sound off. The scenery–both the old broken marble stuff and the Greek guys–is magnificent. And, honestly, dear reader, on my first trip to Greece, the bus driver was just as good looking as the movie’s bus driver/soon to become lover, Alexis Georgoulis

If you want to see some great views of the Parthenon, Delphi, and Olympia, definitely see this movie’s scenery. And oh, yeah, an iconic shot of Santorini turns up, although how that got into the itinerary is a real geographical mystery. DOH!

Have you seen a really GOOD movie filmed with the glorious backdrop of Greece. PLEASE, tell me about it.  THANKS!

Meanwhile, this week will be greco-centric as I celebrate the opening of the New Acropolis Museum. (You can read more of  A Traveler’s Library articles about Greece.)

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