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Movies / Upcoming / My Life in Ruins
My Life in Ruins

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My Life in Ruins (2009)

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Reviews Counted:110

Fresh:11

Rotten:99

Average Rating:3.6/10

Consensus: With stereotypical characters and a shopworn plot, My Life in Ruins is a charmless romantic comedy.

Australian Rating: PG [See Full Rating] Mild sexual references and coarse language

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
Jul 16, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $8,474,608

Synopsis: From Nia Vardalos, writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, comes the uplifting comedy My Life in Ruins. Georgia (Nia Vardalos) has lost her kefi (Greek for “mojo”). Discouraged by her lack... From Nia Vardalos, writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, comes the uplifting comedy My Life in Ruins. Georgia (Nia Vardalos) has lost her kefi (Greek for “mojo”). Discouraged by her lack of direction in life, she works as a travel guide, leading a rag-tag group of tourists as she tries to show them the beauty of her native Greece while waiting to land her dream job. Opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways—finding her kefi and possibly love in the process. --© Fox Searchlight [More]

Starring: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Maria Adanez, Sheila Bernette

Starring: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Maria Adanez, Sheila Bernette, Maria Botto, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, Harland Williams, Ian Gomez

Director: Donald Petrie

Director: Donald Petrie
Screenwriter: Mike Reiss
Producer: Michelle Chyzdik Smith, Nathalie Marciano
Composer: David Newman
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Reviews for My Life in Ruins

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Petrie, who handled slapstick with ease in Miss Congeniality, has lost his timing with this one. There's none of the blithely nonsensical spirit that infuses the atmosphere when actors are enjoying themselves.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
07/24/09
Sandra Hall
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Tired and cliche-ridden, saved only by the authentic scenery, with the movie allowed unprecedented access to sites in Greece such as The Acropolis.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
07/17/09
Liz Graham
Liz Graham
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film contains a constant stream of lowbrow gags and pratfalls as Georgia lurches her way towards happiness, romance and a secure job in the Grecian tourist trade. It's lightweight, inoffensive fluff.

Full Review Source: The Age (Australia) | comment Comment
07/17/09
Jim Schembri
Jim Schembri
The Age (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The main attraction of the film is visiting some of the great sites of Greece.

Full Review Source: At the Movies (Australia) | comment Comment
07/16/09
Margaret Pomeranz
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The film feels slighter than its hugely successful predecessor.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) | comment Comment
07/16/09
Vicky Roach
Vicky Roach
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

My Big Fat Greek Disaster as the familiar sights of mainstream romcoms are presented in a terrible, uninspired tour.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine Australasia | comment Comment
07/12/09
Hilton Thomas
Hilton Thomas
Empire Magazine Australasia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

We almost get to care about Georgia's fate, if it weren't for the fact that none of the film rings true and real

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
07/10/09
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There's no denying Nia Vardalos' appeal as the stitched up Greek tour guide lacking in people skills who discovers there is romance in more than classical history, but it is all too simplistic and contrived

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
07/10/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Nia Vardalos is as charming and watchable as ever but this is cliche ridden fluff.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/04/09
Liz Beardsworth
Liz Beardsworth
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Hollywood doesn’t know what to do with difference, any more than it does with ruins. It’s about time Vardalos, or someone, gave the suits a guided tour.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
10/04/09
Nina Caplan
Nina Caplan
Time Out

As the end of the road finally draws near, you'll need to pull over and throw up.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
10/04/09
Stella Papamichael
Stella Papamichael
Channel 4 Film

Feels like its been churned out by some auto-plot generator.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/04/09
Andrew Pulver
Andrew Pulver
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Feeble romantic comedy.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
10/04/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

The film and all its characters are as tacky and charmless at the end as they are on first impressions.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment Comment
10/04/09
Edward Porter
Edward Porter
Sunday Times (UK)

While Vardalos does her big fat best to keep it fresh, the duff characters and uninspired direction make Greece look as appealing as a week-old kebab.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
10/04/09
Elliott Noble
Elliott Noble
Sky Movies

Vardalos’ peppy charm and the postcard scenery make for pleasant diversions, but there’s no getting away from the script’s mawkishness.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
10/04/09
Ellen E Jones
Ellen E Jones
Total Film

It's a bit like ouzo: seems like fun at the time but you'll no doubt regret it in the morning.

Full Review Source: Filmstar Magazine | comment Comment
10/04/09
James Mottram
James Mottram
Filmstar Magazine

It's like Mamma Mia! without the songs, wit and charm, or Shirley Valentine after a full frontal lobotomy.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
10/04/09
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

Turgid, sappy and utterly failing to utilise a cast including Richard Dreyfuss, it's bad enough to make you smash plates over your own head.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
10/04/09
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

The film is sweet and has a jolly holiday feel but is sadly let down by Nia's unfunny acting.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
10/04/09
Sun Online
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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