Running time: 98 minutes
Starring: Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, David Duchovny, Boris McGiver, Dash Mihok, Debbie Reynolds
Rating 7 out of 10
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis will be merrily spinning in their graves at the notion of Connie and Carla, the latest comedy musical from Nia Vardalos (who had a worldwide smash with My Big Fat Greek Wedding). While there have been plenty of cross-dressing movies since Some Like It Hot, few have aped its premise quite so blatantly, and even though Connie and Carla boasts one of the most perfunctory plots in recent Hollywood memory, it has enough vim and vigour about it to make it more than a mildly enjoyable experience.
Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette play the eponymous characters, two musical theatre singers who perform dinner theatre at Chicago's O'Hare airport. In an amusing opening sequence, we see that their act consists of a songs-from-the-shows-routine in front of the occasional punter filling in time before their flight. It's a meagre way to earn a buck but the two somewhat deludedly believe their big break is just around the corner.
When the two C's inadvertently witness the murder of their club boss at the hands of some gangsters they decide they have no option but to leave town. Heading for Hollywood they land an audition at a gay bar and end up getting the gig. However, they still have the mob on their tail, and there is also the decidedly tricky matter of doing a nightly show as two women pretending to be men dressed as women (a disguise that inexplicably convinces everyone in the gay bar but nobody in the cinema audience).
Further disbelief ensues when Connie meets Jeff (David Duchovny), the brother of one of the club denizens, who is struggling to come to terms with his brother's homosexuality. Their romance (crudely played out through a series of poor gags where they keep bumping into each other) is another of the film's ludicrous moments, as Jeff slowly realises that there may be more to Connie than meets the eye. Not only is their relationship unbelievable, but Nia Vardalos and David Duchovny hardly make the most credible screen couple.
Still, despite such flaws the film hits the high notes when it comes to the on stage performances. If you're a fan of musical theatre then you'll love the camp parodies of South Pacific, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita (among many others), which are amusingly and competently performed by all concerned. There is also a very funny running joke about the hitman on their trail (hilariously played by Boris McGiver), who attends every dinner theatre and musical in America and becomes converted to the whole genre.
Wisely, Vardalos surrounds herself with much better actors, notably in the form of her partner Toni Collette, and while it's not a film to change the world, it's a pleasant enough way to pass the time.
Paul Hurley
Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette play the eponymous characters, two musical theatre singers who perform dinner theatre at Chicago's O'Hare airport. In an amusing opening sequence, we see that their act consists of a songs-from-the-shows-routine in front of the occasional punter filling in time before their flight. It's a meagre way to earn a buck but the two somewhat deludedly believe their big break is just around the corner.
When the two C's inadvertently witness the murder of their club boss at the hands of some gangsters they decide they have no option but to leave town. Heading for Hollywood they land an audition at a gay bar and end up getting the gig. However, they still have the mob on their tail, and there is also the decidedly tricky matter of doing a nightly show as two women pretending to be men dressed as women (a disguise that inexplicably convinces everyone in the gay bar but nobody in the cinema audience).
Further disbelief ensues when Connie meets Jeff (David Duchovny), the brother of one of the club denizens, who is struggling to come to terms with his brother's homosexuality. Their romance (crudely played out through a series of poor gags where they keep bumping into each other) is another of the film's ludicrous moments, as Jeff slowly realises that there may be more to Connie than meets the eye. Not only is their relationship unbelievable, but Nia Vardalos and David Duchovny hardly make the most credible screen couple.
Still, despite such flaws the film hits the high notes when it comes to the on stage performances. If you're a fan of musical theatre then you'll love the camp parodies of South Pacific, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita (among many others), which are amusingly and competently performed by all concerned. There is also a very funny running joke about the hitman on their trail (hilariously played by Boris McGiver), who attends every dinner theatre and musical in America and becomes converted to the whole genre.
Wisely, Vardalos surrounds herself with much better actors, notably in the form of her partner Toni Collette, and while it's not a film to change the world, it's a pleasant enough way to pass the time.
Paul Hurley
