Toula is a modern Greek woman who breaks from family tradition when she enrolls in night classes and falls in love with a non-Greek man.

Perhaps the best audience received film of the year; My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a low-budget charmer. I did not find as close to perfection as many have claimed, however.

The film is funny; portraying a modern Greek family with all their humor, bizarre habits, desire for large meals and family gatherings proves entertaining. But this Greek family isn't much different at all from how popular media has portrayed Italian and Jewish families. No points for originality here.

Like many ensemble films, the real charm lies within the extended cast members and their quirks. Toula's father, brother, grandmother and aunt certainly fill this bill. This assemblage of characters was fun to watch and occasionally hilarious. But the writing rarely has any surprises and some of the jokes are less than clever.

While the writing is less than brilliant, but still respectable, I was downright disappointed in the love story, or lack of a love story. The courtship between Toula and her beau (Corbett) was flat, as is the treatment of this non-Greek suitor in general. Many, many laughs could have been had if the fish-out-of water angle had been played to the hilt. I was pleased with the portrayals of the groom's parents - they had just the right amount of screen time.

There is no denying this film's appeal and certainly it's popularity, but gosh...it could've been quite a bit better.

Directed by Joel Zwick.