The Portokalos Family is Back in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’
Beware Windex lovers, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is back. In 2002, the Portokalos family stole our hearts when Toula (Nia Vardalos) married an anglo (John Corbett). Fourteen years later there is another wedding from the most unexpected characters, Toula's parents.
Trying to prove that he is a direct descendent from Alexander The Great, Gus (Michael Constantine) finds out that the priest who married him never signed the marriage certificate. In other words, he never married Toula's mom. In the meantime, Toula's daughter, Paris (Elena Kampouris), is going to college and finds herself being constantly embarrassed by her 'in her face' lovely family.
If My Big Fat Greek Wedding was about family, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is about generations. Newest cast member, Elena Kampouris explains, "I am half-greek. My dad is greek and I still suffer from what I call BTGD born to greek disorder. My dad and greek family are very similar to the family in this movie. My dad was a huge fan of the first movie. He made me watch it a hundred times because he thought it was the best movie ever made." Relating to the character of Paris was very easy for her. "My dad was very similar to Gus. He wants me to marry a greek boy, have twenty kids and name them Hercules or Apollo. Nia found comedy in our reality." When asked what was her father's reaction when she got cast in the role she said, "He always thought I was going to be in this movie. When I found I was going to audition his reaction was, 'Just tell them you are greek and they are going to give you the role.' He didn't understand it was not that simple. He doesn't understand the casting process." And if you wonder if her family is obsessed with Windex. "Olive oil is good for anything and everything."
On this installment the show stealer is everyone's favorite aunt, Voula played masterfully by Andrea Martin. She is funny, gorgeous and has the best advice, even when you don't need one. Martin felt like time hasn't passed by. "After fourteen years, winning two Tonys and doing many plays, people still recognize me from this character. Fans can't get over 'What do you mean you don’t eat no meat?'" Martin is one of the few actors in these films that are not Greek. She based her character on her aunt. "She was Armenian. She looked lovely and very assimilated into the American world. She even had the white hair in the front. She was flawless, she wore perfect make up all the time and she did her hair everyday." Martin believes that we need more Aunt Voulas in this world. "I wish I could be more confident like Aunt Voula. It would be amazing to go to life without caring what other people say. I would like to be as authoritarian."
Joey Fatone, who plays Cousin Angelo, loves Aunt Voula as well. "My favorite scenes in this movie are all of her scenes." Fatone's character has one of the biggest arcs in the film. "A lot of people haven't seen a dramatic part of me. Thanks to Nia for doing that with my character, but please don't say anything else because it is a secret." Indeed, it is a big and very special reveal.
For director Kirk Jones, the magic of the first installment happened twice. "Directing this movie was very unusual. I just had to guide everyone to a place they've been fourteen years ago, emotionally and comedically." So, why did it take so long to have this family back? Nia Vardalos explains, "It was my fault. By the end of the first movie, I knew Toula was going to be a mom, but I was waiting to become a mom myself. It took me a long time to become a mother. When I went to take my five year old daughter to kindergarten, I was sobbing. I was so overwhelmed and one of the other parents told me, 'In thirteen years they are going to go to college.' I was traumatized. I ran home and started writing the very same day. It took me four months to finish the script."
In the second part, Toula is more similar to the family she was trying to distance herself from in the first movie maybe, in part, because everyone's older. "When I was doing my book tour for my book Instant Mom, I noticed my daughter was there and my parents were there and I was in the middle. Now I am part of the sandwich generation." Toula is also there. Introspectively, Vardalos thinks the statement of the movie is that "Balance is a quest. The only way to know if you are out of balance is if you lose it." Although the Portokalos have the best intentions for all of their family members, it was important for Vardalos to show some kind of female empowerment. "The women of this family are strong. You don't have to get married and have babies. Do what makes you happy."
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 in theaters March 25, 2016.