‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2: 10 Things To Know From The Cast
- Details
- Category: Interviews
- Created: Wednesday, 23 March 2016 08:05
- Published: Wednesday, 23 March 2016 20:29
- Written by Lupe R Haas
It’s taken fourteen years for a follow up to the beloved MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING to hit theaters and the wait is finally over. The sequel to the low budget smash features all the original film’s outlandish yet easy to adore characters and retains the heart that so many connected to the first time around.
Directed by Kirk Jones, the comedy reunites us with Toula (Nia Vardalos), Ian (John Corbett) and the entire Portokalos family, who must come together for an even bigger wedding. The stars give us insight into their return with ten things to know about the highly awaited film.
1. The original MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 remains one of the most profitable films of all time. The indie cost just $5 million to make and grossed a whopping $368 million in the U.S. alone. This time around the production cost $18 million.
2. Vardalos was inspired by her own experiences as a parent when writing the sequel. “ I had written at the end of the first movie that Toula and Ian were parents and, in reality, the struggle to become a parent was real for me,” the actress said at a New York press conference for the film. “It was very long and then I did become a mom -- happy ending! And on my daughter's first day of kindergarten, I was crying so hard and so loud, other moms were backing away from me and someone said to me: 'Hey, come on, in 13 years they're going to go off to college. What's the big deal?' And I went, 'What?' And that's the moment that I realized that I might have the idea for the sequel and I went away and started writing that day."
3. Though set in Chicago like the original film, production took place in Toronto in under two months.
4. For Corbett, there’s no question that the magic of the first film - though it was released over a decade ago is still there. "When we made the first one, the World Trade Towers were still standing; that's how long ago it was and then to come back and try to recreate that was not something that was in my hands at all, it was mostly in hers by putting pencil to paper," Corbett said. "I think having seen the second movie that it happened. Somehow that magic happened twice because this movie does it for me."
5. MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 marks the third time Vardalos and Corbett have costarred together. Aside from the original film, they both starred as love interests in 2008’s I Hate Valentine’s Day.
6. While both the original film and it’s predecessor are family centric, the sequel touches on alternate paths for women that don’t involve marriage and kids. “ I think what happened with the first movie is we were labeled sort of the poster children for getting married and making babies,” Vardalos said. “And I just don’t think that’s the one life for everyone. There are other avenues. Go to Africa. Save giraffes!”
7. Corbet found it refreshing that the sequel was as much a feel good film as the original. “ She’s (Vardalos) smart enough to not give anyone a real-life dose of cancer in this one to battle. It’s not ‘My Big Fat Greek Divorce.’ It’s just more of the same, and that’s what people are going to walk into the theaters wanting. They don’t want something different, really, I believe.”
8. Elena Kampouris, who stars as Toula and Ian’s daughter, brought her own experience with being half-Greek to her role. “I’m half Greek. My father’s side of the family is Greek,” the breakout young actress said. “My mom’s side is French American. So growing up in a Greek family, I call it BTGFD, Born to Greek Family Disorder. You know what it’s like having family members that are very loud, only have one volume, talk with our hands, our feet. If we had extra limbs, we’d be talking with those too.”
9. Vardalos had the lack of women on screen in her mind as she wrote the script. “It’s maddening. And just trying to find a job, imagine how hard it is for me, she noted. “And Lainie Kazan, and Andrea Martin. So I say, I’m pro-woman. But without being anti-man. And the men are well taken care of in my script. As are the women! And it’s easy to do, isn’t it!”
10. Though the film has a light hearted tone, the story is packed with relatable conflict. “We weren't afraid to show what a real marriage can be like and we weren't afraid to show that this family has aged, and that's okay,” Vardalos said. “They all look like they've been dipped in pickle juice. But families go through things, and Kirk wasn't afraid to show that and create a very safe environment on set.”
