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My Life in Ruins (Driving Aphrodite) (2009)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 3.5/10
Reviews Counted: 119
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 108

With stereotypical characters and a shopworn plot, My Life in Ruins is a charmless romantic comedy.

Average Rating: 3.8/10
Critic Reviews: 27
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 25

With stereotypical characters and a shopworn plot, My Life in Ruins is a charmless romantic comedy.

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Average Rating: 2.5/5
User Ratings: 278,407

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Movie Info

Georgia (Nia Vardalos) came to Greece to follow a man. A few years later, she's been cast aside -- alone and adrift in a foreign land. Eventually, her passion for history leads her to a job as a tour guide. But Georgia is bored, and has lost her "kefi" (Greek for mojo) to boot. When taciturn sasquatch Poupi (Alexis Georgoulis) replaces the regular driver at the last minute, the frazzled tour guide thinks that her luck has just hit rock bottom. Thankfully, Georgia's latest batch of tourists is a

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Donald Petrie

Written By: Mike Reiss

In Theaters: Jun 5, 2009 Wide

On DVD: Oct 6, 2009

Box Office:$8.5M

Fox Searchlight Pictures

My Life in Ruins (Driving Aphrodite) Trailer & Photos

More Photos (8)

Cast

Critic Reviews for My Life in Ruins (Driving Aphrodite)

All Critics (120) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (108) | DVD (1)

As a laughing-through-tears jokester tourist, Richard Dreyfuss provides the only moments of real acting, as opposed to overacting, mugging, and scenery chomping.

June 11, 2009 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor

| Comment

Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

Top Critic

It doesn't feel genuine at all, it feels contrived from start to finish.

June 8, 2009 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Ben Lyons

At the Movies

Top Critic

You know precisely where it's headed and how it will get there halfway into Act One.

June 8, 2009 Full Review Source: At the Movies

| Comment

Ben Mankiewicz

At the Movies

Top Critic

My Life in Ruins will neither ruin nor change nor significantly impact your life.

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune

| Comment (1)

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

Defiantly square and focus-group engineered to appeal to those harboring a soft spot for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the Nia Vardalos vehicle My Life in Ruins doesn't do Greece or its star many favors.

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment (1)

Glenn Whipp

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

If only there was something -- anything -- else about this broad, clunky comedy to keep its name from being an oh-so-obvious punchline.

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: New York Daily News

| Comment

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Top Critic

The story is loaded with cliches and weak characters that are simply too annoying to handle.

June 27, 2011 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

My Big Fat Greek Coach Full of Clich�s.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: sbs.com.au

| Comment

Don Groves

sbs.com.au

Leave it to Hollywood to take a bad idea and make it terrible.

December 6, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinemalogue.com

| Comment

Rubin Safaya

Cinemalogue.com

Nia Vardalos is as charming and watchable as ever but this is cliche ridden fluff.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Liz Beardsworth

Empire Magazine

Hollywood doesn't know what to do with difference, any more than it does with ruins. It's about time Vardalos, or someone, gave the suits a guided tour.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Nina Caplan

Time Out

As the end of the road finally draws near, you'll need to pull over and throw up.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Stella Papamichael

Film4

Feels like its been churned out by some auto-plot generator.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

| Comment

Andrew Pulver

Guardian [UK]

Feeble romantic comedy.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]

| Comment (1)

Philip French

Observer [UK]

The film and all its characters are as tacky and charmless at the end as they are on first impressions.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Times [UK]

| Comment

Edward Porter

Times [UK]

While Vardalos does her big fat best to keep it fresh, the duff characters and uninspired direction make Greece look as appealing as a week-old kebab.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Sky Movies

| Comment

Elliott Noble

Sky Movies

Vardalos' peppy charm and the postcard scenery make for pleasant diversions, but there's no getting away from the script's mawkishness.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Total Film

| Comment

Ellen E Jones

Total Film

It's a bit like ouzo: seems like fun at the time but you'll no doubt regret it in the morning.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Filmstar Magazine

| Comment

James Mottram

Filmstar Magazine Source: Filmstar Magazine

It's like Mamma Mia! without the songs, wit and charm, or Shirley Valentine after a full frontal lobotomy.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK]

| Comment (1)

Christopher Tookey

Daily Mail [UK]

Turgid, sappy and utterly failing to utilise a cast including Richard Dreyfuss, it's bad enough to make you smash plates over your own head.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK]

| Comment

David Edwards

Daily Mirror [UK]

The film is sweet and has a jolly holiday feel but is sadly let down by Nia's unfunny acting.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Sun Online

| Comment

Sun Online

Think of Shirley Valentine and take away charm, wit, realism and Pauline Collins.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Financial Times

| Comment

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Might as well be called My Big Fat Greek Package Holiday.

October 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Independent

| Comment

Anthony Quinn

Independent

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for My Life in Ruins (Driving Aphrodite)

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Romance is all over the ruins of Greece in the little romcom. I loved the whole thing. I cried, laughed and had a smile on my face. It made me want to visit Greece and take a bus tour. If you like Under The Tuscan Sun and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this movie is so for you. It's so cute and charming.

July 8, 2010

Alexis Nomm

Super Reviewer

A very cute movie. Nia is adorable as Alexis is as well. I really enjoyed this :)

August 1, 2010

Cassie Hill

Super Reviewer

My Life in Ruins (Driving Aphrodite) Quotes

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1. Georgia: Hey, your jokes aren't funny.
– Submitted by Donna G (12 months ago)

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	Enter quote here...	Delete

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