Amazon.com

The bright cartoon colors of the Saturday morning classic Fat Albert get brought into the real world--or a Hollywood facsimile of reality, at any rate. When a teenage girl named Doris (Kyla Pratt) sheds a tear onto her TV's remote control, her unhappiness summons Fat Albert (Kenan Thompson, Barbershop 2), Mushmouth, Dumb Donald, Old Weird Harold, and the rest of the gang from Bill Cosby's popular cartoon (inspired by his childhood memories of growing up in Philadelphia). Doris is, to say the least, a little freaked out and doesn't really want Fat Albert to help solve her problems--but with the blithe confidence that only cartoon characters can have, Fat Albert and the gang follow her to school to root out the source of her misery. One of the movie's problems (which are legion) is that Doris's world isn't much more real than the cartoon one; it's a sterile, clean-cut caricature of a city neighborhood. In fact, the whole movie feels suspiciously like a commercial for a DVD of Fat Albert cartoons, an advertisement for which actually appears in the movie, making for a bizarrely self-referential product placement. Thompson, surprisingly, hangs on to his dignity in the face of the inane proceedings and even gives Fat Albert a hint of gravitas. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (63)

What is wrong with you people the movie is bad!
I know that everyone is sayin that this movie is great but in my opinion it's really not. I watched it the other day and it's horrible. I do think Kenan Thompson is hilarious but not in this film I don't. This movie really does suck. The acting is terrible, the soundtrack is okay I guess but I just didn't really like the movie much. What a waste of time to watch for a hour and a half but please don't bother seeing it. I just thought it was the worst Bill Cosby movie ever made.

Cartoon much better
I miss the old cartoon..this movie does not compare.This new version of the old is okay...wish Bill Cosby would have played more of a role in this...it may have helped with ratings.
I also wanted to see this to see a friend who had a stand in role with her son.
Was nice too that it wasn't filled with bad language that could have ruined this all together.
Rent don't buy!!!

You're like school on Saturday: no class.
Is there an unwritten rule in Hollywood that if you choose to recreate comedy, it has to be less funny than the original so that it doesn't overpower the genuine moment of the first?I am a strong believer that there is such a rule because I fully witnessed it in the film Fat Albert.This film had so much potential that I really wanted to jump into my television and start grabbing necks a-la Homer Simpson.Frustration grew inside of me as jokes were tossed out towards the viewing audience with such disappointment that to laugh would have given the film way too much credit.The characters were flat, the story was "normal chaos that has been done in nearly every other film", and the class of the television program Fat Albert was diminished by cheap thrills and over-budgeting.Did Bill Cosby have a true writing credit to this film?It would be hard for me to believe that he seriously considered this work great, but then again, he is older and has bills to pay ... so why not?While the ending tried to bring a tear to your eye, I was already crying at the utter lack of appreciation that this film carried and influenced the youth of our nation.

To say that this film was horrible would be too kind of a word, to quote a line from the film "(Fat Albert is) like school on Saturday: no class" would again, probably be giving it too much credit.From the opening credit sequence to the overly animated cartoons to the lack of animation in the characters when they became real was difficult to watch. Kenan Thompson tries really hard to empower the soul of Fat Albert, but what comes through the screen are just pathetic.He has no backbone and literally, he gives Albert this image of ignorance.Instead of being this helpful friend, Thompson's Albert has these huge glazed eyes that roll around whenever trouble begins.He just didn't seem to have that pizzazz that I remember Albert having from the television programs.If Albert was a leader in the cartoon, he was not one in this film.Unless you count the fact that the other actors in this film followed his suit by also leaving their energy at home.Childish humor coupled with this sense of apathy really didn't spark this film onto the level it should have been.I kept seeing glances of this really humorous story about Fat Albert in the real world, but instead I was forced through yet another Cool World.That is how I would best describe this film, Cool World for children.

With our characters firmly not caring about their careers, we are then forced to focus on the non-existent story that apparently the writers of this film chose to not write.Instead of creating a plot with some climactic moments, our writers of this film chose to just let Fat Albert wander until something funny happened.I kept wondering to myself if this was an actual scripted film or just Thompson and Zwick allowing improv to occur anywhere and anytime.Now, if you were working with a genuine comic actor this could have worked (like Robin Williams or Will Ferrell), but with Thompson it just felt forced.Nearly every scene felt forced or overworked in this film.Spontaneity was not an element that these writers considered.This ultimately caused the jokes to be extremely flat.The humor just didn't bring the true life of Albert onto the screen.This is where I question the validity of Cosby being involved with this production.I know he was getting paid, but how much did he work?The jokes felt so old and used that I am surprised that children responded to them.Maybe it was the urban feel that Albert somehow felt comfortable in ... who knows?Either way, the loose story allowed for unfizzy jokes, which ultimately lead to the demise of this picture.

Finally, I would like to say that Fat Albert (when I was growing up) was an inspiration and "every man" to us all.The group that followed him and his actions somehow always felt like a part of us.There wasn't anything that could stop Fat Albert from helping another lost soul, and somehow in this film adaptation, none of these old feels could be remembered.It wasn't as if they were trying, but this was definitely not the same Fat Albert that I grew up with.He didn't reach me like he used to, and perhaps it was the larger budget or the lack of imagination, but Albert hurt the soul in this film.I am surprised that he was able to assist Doris in her problem (this obscure problem that was never quite defined), because if I were in her shoes, I would have politely kicked this Albert to the curb.Cosby needed to reconsider his options before allowing this Albert to see the light of day.

Overall, as if you couldn't tell already, this film hurt me.As I watched this dopey picture, I couldn't help but wonder if this film was focused correctly.When it first started I had this feeling that Albert would be called to help Doris with her problem, causing him to be a secondary character (like her own Jiminie Cricket), but instead what happened is that Thompson's camera excitement stole the performance away from Doris while creating a film centered around Albert.This should not have been the case for this to be a truly inspirational film.We lost the central focus of the film, and then the story just went fuzzy.Too many hands in the honey pot with one hand wanting to be on top.It was sad, and ultimately destroyed this film.

Grade: ** out of *****

Bill Cosby must not have had an active role in this
I think there should be a competition on fear factor to see how many times someone could watch this movie. It's so dumb. Every corny comedy cliche about a person from the past who comes to the future is hit in this travesty. You could have more fun by throwing yourself down the stairs of your house.

FAT ALBERT IS HOT AIR
This is 1 of the most horrible movies that I have ever seen.I couldn't even get to the end of it before I got up to come and write this review.The actors in the movie need to hone their skills and stop trying to make movies to fit everyone.I don't know if they realize it but this movie is STRICTLY for the kids because they do not know any better.If I could have given this movie ZERO stars, I would have done so. ... Read more

Description

Toula Portokalos is a quiet, devoted daughter in a big, hectic, crazy Greek family. Working at her father's restaurant, "Dancing Zorba's," she hides behind a mop of mousy brown hair and thick, impenetrable glasses, keeping her family close and the world at a distance. But one day at the restaurant, she finds herself pouring coffee for a man so strikingly good-looking, that he inspires her to change her life - and the way she sees the world - forever. With a new hairdo, wardrobe, contact lenses, and most important of all, a whole new attitude, Toula steps out into the world a new woman, all ready to meet her man. Ian Miller is tall, handsome, but definitely not Greek. And whether he can handle Toula, her parents, her aunts, uncles, cousins and several centuries of Greek culture remains to be seen. But when you see the world through Toula's eyes, anything is possible! ... Read more

Reviews (686)

A Surprise Hit - Well Worth Watching!
Screenplay writer doubling as actress, Nia Vardalos plays herself - the frumpy daughter in a paternalistic Greek family in Chicago. She's dying to get out from the family business, a Greek restaurant, so that she can take some classes at the local college.

Enter Ian, a handsome suitor that is perfect in every way but one. He's not Greek.

Hilarity ensues as Ian introduces Nia to his family and she introduces Ian to her family. The cultural and familial differences make for many laughs.

The film nails the family relations perfectly - aunts that like to talk about their medical conditions, overprotective brothers, a misguided but loving father that likes to use Windex, a mother obsessed with cooking, the nosy beauty-queen cousin....

Most anyone will be able to identify with this film. It makes no difference whether one comes from a Greek background or not.

The film is filled with genuine laughs and subtle humor (e.g. as Ian tries to attract Nia's attention outside the storefront window he runs into an old woman who then takes it out on him with her purse). I found myself laughing throughout.

The characters are well played. Nia plays the role she was born to play - herself, and the film is thankfully absent of any high-powered Hollywood names. With no big names to distract the viewer, it makes the film work well.

Look for either a sequel or a sitcom to be spawned from this surprise blockbuster. Three cheers for independent films!

Hilarious and sweet
I saw this movie with my best friend and it was awesome.

I love how Ian goes to great lengths to be accepted by Toula's family. He's someone any woman would love to have. When Toula was "frump girl" he saw past that and just saw her as she is.

Although her family can be a huge pain in the ass, they only want what's best for her. In a way,they remind me of my family.

Everyone should see this movie. It'll make you laugh and it has really sweet moments.

It's All Greek To Me!
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is the Greek-American take on love, work, food, drink, school, language, religion, fashion and dating among other things. As the title suggests, it features a massive cast of relatives, half of which are called "Nick".

Toula (Nia Vardalos) is a 30 year old Greek-American waitress at her parents restaurant. Her folks want her married and with children. She is shy, a little ashamed of her family, and looking for something new in her life. She lands a job at a Greek-American run travel agent and meets Ian Miller (John Corbett), a handsome, long haired guy, and a non-Greek to boot. HE'S something new! Toula falls in love with him, secretly dates him, and eventually gets proposed to by him. A clash of cultures follows as the wedding draws near!

The love element is just the icing on the cake. What this film is really about is Greek-Americans and their way of life, which may often seem strange and silly to outsiders but really is close knit, fun loving and family centred. I have some Greek friends, and though living in Australia they're slightly different here, the attitudes, the values, the oddities and the relatives are pretty similar to those shown in the film. It's not that exaggerated or played up upon, as a lot of other Hollywood films often are.

If anything, maybe it's a little downplayed. My Greek friends are a lot louder and larger than life that this cast. A little more entertaining too, actually. Maybe because of this, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" it didn't really have a big impact on me. I'd seen all these cultural elements before, so it wasn't a novelty, and since I'm not a Greek immigrant myself (or a child of), it was harder to relate to. Still, that's just me. This film is warm hearted, funny and insightful, and you can tell that everyone involved had a lot of fun recreating a Greek-American household.

If you liked this film, you may also like to see "The Wog Boy", a slightly sillier movie about the life of a workshy Greek-Australian.

You have to see this movie!!!
I first saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding alone on the big screen. I had no idea that it would be such a hit.

Nia Vardalos does an incredible job about bringing out the humor in what it means to be a Greek American. I laughed before things were even said in the movie -- the Greek school scene, the Greek "boys" her dad wants her to marry, the brother, and the pomp & circumstance of the wedding. This is a funny movie, I think for non-Greeks, but for Greeks, it's a must. You have to see this movie. How often does anyone make a movie about Greek Americans anyway??

That being said, the dialogue could have been improved. Ian was a bit boring and flat of a character. I suppose that was the point, seeing as we were supposed to "see" Toula better. I think if Vardalos had realized what a hit she had on her hands, there would have been more polish on the movie. As it is, it is a diamond in the rough -- more or less.

A funny light entertainment
This film is austere but delightful. Written with sincerity and honesty. Affective memories support this movie.
Laughable situations along the process to approach to the greek mood.
Good performances and fluid script. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great show
I really hope they release this show on DVD. I have looked everywhere for it. I would buy it right now if it were out. If there is any news of it coming out, post something.

What's keeping this "Family" from "Mattering"?
I watched this show for 9 years and it was much better than it's predecessor "Perfect Strangers". "Family Matters" was the spinoff from Perfect Strangers Marie Jo Peyton played the security guard Harriet Winslow on tha show. So producers decided to spin her off unto her own show. I loved her show better! I stopped watching "PS" and started watching "FM" for it's entire 9 year run. It was sad when they replaced "Harriette" in the last season because Marie Jo was upset that her show became the Steve/Laura/Carl show. Eddie grown into being a really hot looking man! Damn those biceps he has! So when are they coming out with the DVDS?

THE GREATEST FAMILY COMEDY DRAMA SHOW!!!!!!!!!
I have to first off say....God I love this show. I plan to get this if not the first day it comes out, the first week it does. Steve Urkel was the funniest. I love Myra and Laura. They are my sweethearts. God bless Myra a.k.a(Michelle Thomas) who passed away from stomach cancer several years ago. I heard rumors on the internet that Carl was gay. I dont believe its true cause its just a rumor. People just make up stuff, but if it is true thats his business. All I care is he is a great actor. I loved every star on that show. Evary family needs to have this collection no matter what race you are. Thumbs up to all the supporters including me. I hope everyone gets this show on DVD cause I know I will! DID I DO THAT!!!!????????????? LMAO......

Wonderful show
The show was greeeeeeeeeeeeeeat I used to watch it every friday night on TGIF Friday it was a tradition.

Did I Do That?
I love this show. Steve Urkel was the funniest character. He likes to go to the Winslows house and disturb them and knock over things. I laughed when he ask did i do that? My favorite characters is Steve , Carl , and Waldo. When Waldo [Shawn Harrison] first appeared in this show he was the funniest one. I watched this show sense i was litle. I hope it comes out on first season. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This show was very good.
This show had lots of great stories and for sure should be released on Dvd.

AMAZING show
This show has to be the greatest sitcom ever in my opinion. I see all these other HORRIBLE tv shows coming out on DVD, and this show isnt out yet, wassup wit dat?? Anyways releasing this show seasons 1-7 will be a GREAT thing for Step By Step fans around the globe.

Please release on DVD
"Step by Step" was one of the great family sit-coms of the 1990s.It was definitely a feel-good show that could also make you laugh.I hope that it is released on DVD... ... Read more