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MY LIFE IN RUINSMovie Reviews
Comedy about a travel guide in her native Greece, discouraged by her lack of direction in life, who travels the magnificent country and begins to see things in new ways and possibly find love along the way. Cast:Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Harland Williams, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Maria AdanezDirector:Donald PetrieRelease Date:June 5, 2009DVD Release:October 6, 2009From:Fox SearchlightRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 35 min
My Life in Ruins played to weak reviews. • Connie Ogle wrote in the Miami Herald, "...a pleasant if unremarkable romantic comedy that plays out like a sitcom with great scenery... a fine way to while away a summer afternoon." • And Claudia Puig wrote in USA Today, "...plays out more like a thuddingly bad, been-there, seen-that sitcom." More Reviews Below...
My Life in Ruins Positive Reviews (33 Reviews, reviews below)
Leah Rozen, People: MODERATE(cg) "...a cloying romantic comedy. The on-location scenery is spectacular, though, making this a cheap virtual vacation -- minus the jet lag."(See all of Leah Rozen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 44 words, 06/04/09
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a middle-aged Hallmark chick flick that makes you wish you were on a Greek vacation (and not, in fact, watching the movie)."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 429 words, 06/05/09
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: POOR(cg) "These people are spectacularly unfunny, especially under the overly jaunty direction of Donald Petrie ('Miss Congeniality,' 'Just My Luck'..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 551 words, 06/04/09
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "...the creaky rom-com's jokes are pretty groan-worthy, with gags constructed from national stereotypes: American, Australian and, of course, Greek."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 57 words, 06/04/09
Claudia Puig, USA Today: WEAK(cg) "...plays out more like a thuddingly bad, been-there, seen-that sitcom. Even the sight of breathtaking ancient monuments don't keep it from crumbling."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 407 words, 06/05/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: WEAK "...not likely to spur much tourism to Greece.... The sights, though impressive, are not photographed interestingly, the citizens of the host country are less than welcoming."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 592 words, 06/05/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: WEAK(cg) "Rarely has a film centered on a character so superficial and unconvincing, played with such unrelenting sameness. I didn't hate it so much as feel sorry for it."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 663 words, 06/05/09
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...doesn't do Greece or its star many favors... the movie primarily exists to give amiable Everywoman Vardalos the chance to regain her kefi."(See all of Glenn Whipp's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 370 words, 06/05/09
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: POOR(cg) "Vardalos is provided with a longhaired love interest -- a bus driver named Poupi Kakis (Alexis Georgoulis) who, you guessed it, has a nephew named Doodi."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 344 words, 06/05/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "Vardalos glides through the picture, smiling gamely (near-constantly, in fact), setting up the next formulaic vignette in Mike Reiss' screenplay."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 405 words, 06/05/09
Kate Taylor, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...chock-a-block with jokey stereotypes... only occasionally mustering enough charm or humour to rise above a predictable formula."(See all of Kate Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 803 words, 06/05/09
Scott Foundas, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "...a strangely self-loathing affair... renders Greece itself as a badly plumbed third-world hellhole run by lazy, Zorba-dancing louts."(See all of Scott Foundas's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 232 words, 06/03/09
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: POOR(cg) "Screenwriter Mike Reiss ('The Simpsons Movie') and director Donald Petrie ('Just My Luck') force every joke... A few punch lines hit the mark, or at least land within earshot."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 556 words, 06/05/09
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic: POOR(cg) "Throughout 'My Life in Ruins,' the character played by Nia Vardalos repeatedly is told, 'You're not funny.' Ah, if only she had listened."(See all of Randy Cordova's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 326 words, 06/05/09
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Summery and scenic... a diversion that dispenses the wisdom: Let go, let live, and let love. Not bad advice, and not a bad movie, exactly."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 411 words, 06/05/09
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "Dreyfuss and Vardalos are funny and sexy together... There's something between them here. And it's impossible to trust a movie that can't see that."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 06/05/09
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: WEAK(cg) "...a romantic comedy that bathes in clichés before rinsing off with sentimentality and spritzing itself with lame jokes. The result is, alas, a bit whiffy."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 421 words, 06/05/09
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: POOR(cg) "...listless and lame... This wet pita bread of a project is the first truly putrid movie I can remember coming from Fox Searchlight."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 06/05/09
Charles Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: MODERATE(cg) "...comes close to being a Greek tragedy, but the actors never let the film die... The humor is corny, but Vardalos' charm compensates for the glitches."(See all of Charles Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 06/05/09
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: WEAK(cg) "Vardalos is a winning presence, and if you've got to hire an old guy to pass on the gift of humor and lessons about love, you could do worse than Dreyfuss."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 437 words, 06/05/09
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a pleasant if unremarkable romantic comedy that plays out like a sitcom with great scenery... a fine way to while away a summer afternoon."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 436 words, 06/05/09
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun: WEAK(cg) "...the supporting characters come from the International House of Stereotypes. They include beer-swigging Australians, overly loud and casual Americans..."(See all of Michael Sragow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 579 words, 06/05/09
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: MODERATE(cg) "For those craving a baklava-sweet snack, here's your rush of the familiar. It's the rest of us who must worry about a spike in our blood sugar."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 402 words, 06/05/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Scott Foundas, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "...a strangely self-loathing affair... renders Greece itself as a badly plumbed third-world hellhole run by lazy, Zorba-dancing louts."(See all of Scott Foundas's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 232 words, 06/03/09
Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "It's hard to imagine Donald Petrie's film appealing to anyone but diehard fans of the single-woman-gets-her-groove-back-in-exotic-locale genre."(See all of Betsy Sherman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 150 words, 06/04/09
Stephen Holden, New York Times: WEAK "...not likely to spur much tourism to Greece.... The sights, though impressive, are not photographed interestingly, the citizens of the host country are less than welcoming."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 592 words, 06/05/09
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...doesn't do Greece or its star many favors... the movie primarily exists to give amiable Everywoman Vardalos the chance to regain her kefi."(See all of Glenn Whipp's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 370 words, 06/05/09
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...doesn't do Greece or its star many favors... the movie primarily exists to give amiable Everywoman Vardalos the chance to regain her kefi."(See all of Glenn Whipp's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 370 words, 06/05/09
Stephen Holden, New York Times: WEAK "...not likely to spur much tourism to Greece.... The sights, though impressive, are not photographed interestingly, the citizens of the host country are less than welcoming."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 592 words, 06/05/09
16.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
My Life in Ruins's reviews are separated by an average 16.1 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
My Life in Ruins (33 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:My Life in Ruins's reviews cover 63.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 13,294 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 403 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
My Life in Ruins Coverage, Volume & Length (33 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 12.1 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
My Life in Ruins's reviews on average broke 12.1 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is My Life in Ruins's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
My Life in Ruins (33 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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