Monday, May 28, 2007
Greeks // hair stylists
I spent most of yesterday knitting on a baby afghan for a friend who's due in mid-June. Therefore the tv was on, because I seem to prefer marathon knitting with tv accompaniment instead of silence or even music. (Three senses need to be occupied, I guess, probably a left-over from doing homework as a teenager (ha).) Anyway, a friend recommended Shear Genius so I watched several episodes and LOVED it. I don't like all reality shows but I do like the ones where producing a result is the point. Furthermore, these judges are far less smug and dismissive than any of the others. It's a good time and really fun to watch.
I also watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding which got such wildly positive reviews. The cast is terrific (for example, John Corbett (who was once a hairstylist!!) is the non-Greek boyfriend, Gia Carides (Anthony LaPaglia's wife) is the cousin, Lainie Kazan (who is awesome) is the mother, etc., etc.). But the whole thing made me cringe, more and more as time went on. The pile-up of stereotypes was unbelievable, from the ridiculous father who doesn't listen to anyone to the mother who seems deferential but really runs everything to the brother beloved by the father but is really a skirt-chasing jerk to the drab girl who suddenly figures out how to use make-up and dress cutely and (lo and behold) attracts the best looking guy in town. Not to mention the shenanigans about the family refusing to accept the non-Greek boyfriend and working that through lots of fights and then accepting him and then . . . surprise . . . everyone lives happily ever after. Granted that there are only a few story lines and that everything is re-told over and over, but the ones that work have to offer something unique and charming. I was surprised but thought this was poorly-wrought.
I also watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding which got such wildly positive reviews. The cast is terrific (for example, John Corbett (who was once a hairstylist!!) is the non-Greek boyfriend, Gia Carides (Anthony LaPaglia's wife) is the cousin, Lainie Kazan (who is awesome) is the mother, etc., etc.). But the whole thing made me cringe, more and more as time went on. The pile-up of stereotypes was unbelievable, from the ridiculous father who doesn't listen to anyone to the mother who seems deferential but really runs everything to the brother beloved by the father but is really a skirt-chasing jerk to the drab girl who suddenly figures out how to use make-up and dress cutely and (lo and behold) attracts the best looking guy in town. Not to mention the shenanigans about the family refusing to accept the non-Greek boyfriend and working that through lots of fights and then accepting him and then . . . surprise . . . everyone lives happily ever after. Granted that there are only a few story lines and that everything is re-told over and over, but the ones that work have to offer something unique and charming. I was surprised but thought this was poorly-wrought.
Permalink | 
| posted by jau at 9:25 AM
jau — at 1:18 PM, May 28, 2007:
| posted by jau at 9:25 AM
2 more:
jau — at 1:18 PM, May 28, 2007:
Totally agree about predictable endings sometimes - they're fun and even reassuring. My objections to MBFGW are less about the story line than the stereotypicalness (is that a real word?). I don't like the I-run-the-family-and-don't-you-dare-argue-with-me father who is dominated by the older-and-therefore-unattractive woman whose heart of gold lurks just beneath the annoying surface and who actually controls everything. Or the drab and apparently ugly girl who transforms instantly to cute and pretty with no job change or guidance, just some miraculously-appearing, perfect-fitting and coordinated new clothes and a few swipes of eyeliner and blush. Maybe I'm not Disney enough or something but I mean, who is really like that?
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Ian
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