My Life in Ruins

After appearing in 2002's My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a top-grossing romantic comedy, writer-star Nia Vardalos practically disappeared (she did attempt a TV spin-off that flamed out quickly and also teamed with Toni Collette for the little-seen 2004 comedy Connie and Carla). Her big-screen comeback vehicle is neither as charming nor as inventive as MBFGW; in fact, director Donald Petrie's My Life in Ruins bears strong resemblance to the similarly themed 1969 comedy, If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium. Vardalos plays a history-professor-turned-tour-guide who's working in Greece and trying to kickstart her stalled personal life. While coping with a group of international tourists—including a wisecracking Jewish widower played by Richard Dreyfuss—she falls for her hirsute, tight-lipped bus driver, whose name just happens to be Poupi Kakas (Alexis Georgoulis). The Greek scenery is eye-poppingly beautiful, but the script is weak, the supporting cast even weaker, and Vardalos doesn't have a thimbleful of chemistry with Georgoulis. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include three audio commentaries (the first by star Nia Vardalos, second by director Donald Petrie, and third by writer Mike Reiss), deleted scenes with an alternate ending (13 min. total), and an “Everybody Loves Poupi” gag featurette (4 min.). Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (E. Hulse)