Themes: Assumed Identities, Witnessing a Crime, Nothing Goes Right
Main Cast: Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, David Duchovny, Stephen Spinella, Alec Mapa
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Actress and writer Nia Vardalos, who became an overnight sensation with My Big Fat Greek Wedding, returns to the big screen with this gender-bending comedy. Connie (Vardalos) and Carla (Toni Collette) are best friends who've shared the same dream ever since they were teenagers -- making a name for themselves in the musical theater. However, after years of treading water on Chicago's dinner theater circuit and playing bottom-of-the-barrel nightclubs, the two are facing middle age with minimal career success. One evening after a performance, Connie and Carla have the misfortune of witnessing the murder of nightclub owner Frank (Michael Roberds) by low-level Mafiosi; the gals are seen by the shooters, and they hit the road in fear for their lives. Connie and Carla end up in Los Angeles, where they struggle to create new identities for themselves. After witnessing a drag review at a nightclub, they realize that even they have more talent than most of the men performing that evening, and they decide to pose as female impersonators in hopes of landing a gig. Connie and Carla's new act is an immediate hit, and soon they're the toast of L.A.'s gay community. But the women discover it's difficult to keep on fooling people into believing they're men, and things become even more complicated when the Mobsters discover that Connie and Carla are in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Connie finds herself falling for Jeff (David Duchovny), a regular guy looking for his cross-dressing brother who can't understand why he's developing a crush on a drag queen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Nia Vardalos probably could have had any project she wanted greenlit after the phenomenal success of My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- easily the biggest sleeper hit in movie history. What she did was fashion a distaff Some Like It Hot that exists solely so that the self-admitted musical theater geek can perform some of her favorite show tunes. On the plus side, the musical performances by Vardalos and co-star Toni Collette are quite good. The duo did their own singing and their voices mesh quite well together. Their joy as they belt out the songs is palpable. Sadly, the rest of the film does not work as well. While the gangster storyline fails to build up either tension or humor, the film's storyline about drag queens seeking acceptance is hammered home with an artistically shameful obviousness. Odds are that anyone interested in a film about women on the run from the mob pretending to be drag queens is already gay friendly, so this entire section of the film is little more than a sermon directed at the converted. And what a boring, unoriginal sermon it is. Greek Wedding may have been slight and derivative, but it was never preachy or earnest. For those that believe in the sophomore slump, Connie and Carla provides a rather fascinating case study. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Christopher Logan - Brian/Banana; Robert Kaiser - Paul; Ian Gomez - Stanley; Nick Sandow - Al; Dash Mihok - Mikey; Robert John Burke - Rudy; Boris McGiver - Tibor; Mike Roberds - Frank; Babs Chula - Carla's Mom; Linda Darlow - Connie's Mom; Veena Sood - Mrs. Morse; Gary Jones - Bartender; Don Ackerman - Super Fey Guy; Fred Keating - Man in Airport; Adam Harrington - Cute Guy; Kristi Angus - Woman in Crowd; Nicola Crosbie - Reporter; Guy Fauchon - Another Super Fey Guy; Danielle Woodman - Young Connie; Bart Anderson - Man in Airport; Charles Payne - Hollywood Policeman; Kristina Copeland - Botox Woman; Fiona Hogan - Natasha; Krista Rae - Mary; D. Neil Mark - Crooked Cop; June B. Wilde - Woman in Airport; Carl McDonald - Dressing Room Guy; Brittney Wilson - Young Carla; Douglas Baird - Cameraman; Paddy Ma - Groove Thing Queen; Ryf Van Rij - Cute Guy; Jay Williams - Groove Thing Queen; Todd Oberg - Groove Thing Queen; Chelah Horsdal - Botox's Friend; Elaine Kliner - Snoring Woman in Airport; Douglas McLeod - Bass Player; Stephen Cottrill - Guitar Player; Lloyd Nicholson - Pianist; Gordon Roberts - Drummer
Credit
Geoff Wallace - Art Director, Stephanie Striegel - Associate Producer, Charles O'Shea - Boom Operator, Francine Maisler - Casting, Kathleen Driscoll-Mohler - Casting, Cynthia Onrubia - Choreography, Randy Edelman - Conductor, Warren Carr - Co-producer, Ruth Myers - Costume Designer, Bruce Franklin - First Assistant Director, Michael Lembeck - Director, David Finfer - Editor, Rita Wilson - Executive Producer, Peter Safran - Executive Producer, Nia Vardalos - Executive Producer, Donna Bis - Hair Styles, Dena Greene - Hair Styles, Pauline Tremblay - Hair Styles, Kendrie Upton - Location Manager, Randy Edelman - Composer (Music Score), Randy Edelman - Musical Arrangement, Ralph Ferraro - Musical Arrangement, Stuart Balcomb - Musical Arrangement, Paul Bogaev - Musical Direction/Supervision, Connie Parker - Makeup, Charles Porlier - Makeup, Richard Greatrex - Camera Operator, Richard S. Walden - Camera Operator, Robert Stecko - Camera Operator, Jasna Stefanovic - Production Designer, Gary Barber - Producer, Roger Birnbaum - Producer, Jonathan Glickman - Producer, Judy Nord - Recording, Dominique Fauquet-Lemaitre - Set Designer, Garvin Cross - Stunts, Kristene Kenward - Stunts, Kim Weisner - Stunts, James Bamford - Stunts, Marny Eng - Stunts Coordinator, Tony Lazarowich - Special Effects Supervisor, Warren Carr - Unit Production Manager, Drew Locke - Unit Production Manager, Nia Vardalos - Screenwriter, Eike Schroter - Additional Cinematography, Tarina Colledge - Production Assistant, Andrew Dec - Production Assistant, Darren Giblin - Production Assistant, Paul Russell - Production Assistant, Ian Doig - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Grace Macleod - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, F. Hudson Miller - Special Effects Editor, Suhail F. Kafity - Special Effects Editor, Gloria Davies - Unit Publicist, Kathy Nelson - Executive Music Producer, Sacha Fassaert - First Assistant Camera, Dermot Hickey - First Assistant Camera, David Roman - First Assistant Camera, Chalane Hayward - Grip, Gord Taite - Grip, Jim Hurford - Key Grip, Randy Edelman - Music Producer, Paul Bogaev - Music Producer, Cara Fay - Post Production Supervisor, Jennifer Roe Emery - Production Coordinator, Jim LeBlanc - Properties Master, Leslie Shatz - Re-Recording Mixer, Terry Porter - Re-Recording Mixer, Dean A. Zupancic - Re-Recording Mixer, Christina Weigman - Script Supervisor, Cindy Smith - Second Assistant Director, John Sleep - Special Effects Coordinator, Eike Schroter - Still Photographer, Robert L. Sephton - Supervising Sound Editor, Randle Akerson - Supervising Sound Editor, Maya Mani - Costume/Wardrobe, Nancy Collini - Costume/Wardrobe, Scott Blackie - Costume/Wardrobe, Stacy Hooper - Costume/Wardrobe, Kathy Kertesz - Costume/Wardrobe, Ali Wildey - Costume/Wardrobe, Val Kuklowsky - ADR Editor, Doc Kane - ADR Mixer, Jeannette Browning - ADR Recordist, Jacqui Dudeck - Art Department Assistant, Tyler Harron - Assistant Art Director, William Mcphail - Assistant Costumer Designer, Dean Scheck - Assistant Hair, Jessica Rain - Assistant Hair, Peter Klassen - Assistant Location Manager, Lise Kuhr - Assistant Makeup, Christopher Pinhey - Assistant Makeup, Jared Howitt - Assistant Production Coordinator, Laura Livingstone - Assistant Production Coordinator, Tom Baleshta - Assistant Properties, F. Scott Taylor - Assistant Sound Editor, Matthew Paul Hanson - Assistant Sound Editor, Chris Cochran - Best Boy Electric, Ron Bowen - Best Boy Grip, Pamela Thomas - Casting Assistant, Michelle Short - Casting Assistant, Jeff Upton - Chief Lighting Technician, Derek Del Puppo - Construction Coordinator, Sandra J. Blackie - Costumes Supervisor, Val Kuklowsky - Dialogue Editor, Michael Cox - Dolly Grip, Paul Sheridan - Dolly Grip, Monty Black - Electrician, Marc Daunais - Electrician, Andrea Brown - Extra Casting, Cheryl Buckman - First Assistant Editor, Dennis Newman - First Assistant Editor, Christopher Flick - Foley Editor, Kristen Dick - Personal Assistant, Lisa Joy - Personal Assistant, Eric Knight - Personal Assistant, Natalia Lusinski - Personal Assistant, Nancy Needham - Personal Assistant, Ann Partrich - Personal Assistant, Benjamin Salka - Personal Assistant, Jodie Taggart - Personal Assistant, Erika Toliusis - Scenic Artist, Stephen Mcnight - Second Assistant Camera, Scott Wesley Ross - Second Assistant Editor, Shelly Theaker - Second Assistant Editor, Lori Peterson - Second Second Assistant Director, Scott Holburn - Set Dresser, Andrei Mahankov - Set Dresser, David Manske - Set Dresser, Shannon Mcfarlane - Set Dresser, Toni Nick - Set Dresser, Cindy Rose - Set Dresser, Dominique Fauquet Lemaitre - Set Decorator, Background Players - ADR Loop Group, Chris T. Welch - ADR Supervisor, Harrison Beal - Assistant Choreographer, Scott Aitken - Cable Person, Dennis McNeill - Color Timing, Willis Karsgaard - Construction Foreman, James Ashwill - Foley Mixer, Valerie Davidson - Foley Supervisor, John Cucci - Foley Walker, Dan O'Connell - Foley Walker, John Dines - Generator Operator, Buena Vista Negative Cutting - Negative Cutter, Mary Beth Smith - Negative Cutter, Darren Brisker - Production Sound Mixer, Monica Mckenzie - Set Medic/First Aid, Shirley Smale - Set Medic/First Aid, Laraine Johnson - First Assistant Avid Editor, Sheri Hunter - Assistant Set Decorator
Vardalos and Collette play the title characters, whose lifelong friendship and co-obsession with musical theatre have brought nothing but career dead ends. Despite this they continue their optimism, hosting a variety act at an airport lounge. After accidentally witnessing a mafia hit in Chicago, they go on the run, landing in L.A.. Initially working at a beauty salon, they wind up posing as drag queens and auditioning to host a drag revue at a gay club.
Because they sing their own songs (a rarity for queens), they are hired, and their variety show (first entitled What a Drag (Pun Intended!) then called Connie and Carla and the Belles of the Balls after they add a few friends to the act) becomes a hit. Things are going smoothly but the two make a pact not to let men interfere with their life. This causes conflict when Connie falls for Jeff (Duchovny), the straight brother of Robert, one of their drag queen friends. As the show gets bigger, the two convince the club owner to convert it into a full dinner theater, and eventually their popularity threatens to expose them.
On the official opening night of the dinner theater, the mob killers catch up with them, but with the help of their drag queen friends, and to great applause from the audience (who think it is part of their act), Connie and Carla take them down. They ultimately confess their real identities to the audience and are accepted for who they are. Connie reveals herself to Jeff, who arrives after the chaos. He accepts her and becomes her love interest. This movie was filmed in Vancouver, B.C. and featured a number of local drag queens.
Musicals referenced or featured
The following is a list of musicals referenced or featured in the film (in order of first reference):
Oklahoma! - Connie and Carla perform "Oklahoma!" in the airport lounge and "I Cain't Say No" during their audition at The Handlebar.
Jesus Christ Superstar - Connie and Carla perform "Superstar" in the airport lounge and "Everything's Alright" during their first performance at The Handlebar.
Mame - Interludes during the picture with the character Tibor seeing several performances of Mame.
South Pacific - "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair," is part of Connie and Carla's performance in What a Drag (Pun Intended!) at The Handlebar. They also sing "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" at the end of the film with the rest of the main cast.
Funny Girl - Connie and Carla sing "Don't Rain on My Parade," part of their performance in What a Drag (Pun Intended!) at The Handlebar.
Gypsy, Rent, and Hairspray - At this point in the film, these are mentioned by Tibor, though no songs from the shows are sung. The theatre productions of Rent, Hairspray, and Mamma Mia! became movie musicals shortly after this film.
Grease - Debbie Reynolds and Connie and Carla and the Belles of the Balls sing "There Are Worse Things I Could Do."
A Chorus Line - Connie and Carla sing "What I Did for Love."
Guys and Dolls - Connie mentions "the Guys and Dolls tribute."
Additionally, the movie as a whole can be compared to Victor/Victoria for the theme of a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. It is also similar to Some Like it Hot, in which two men witness a crime and must hide from the mafia by impersonating women.
This is not David Duchovny's first role in the world of drag queens/crossdressers. He had a memorable recurring role as a crossdressing DEA agent on the series Twin Peaks.
Boris McGiver, who plays Tibor, goes searching for Connie and Carla in many dinner theaters and seems to always be catching a production of Mame; he is the son of John McGiver, who plays Mr. Babcock in the film version of Mame.
Box office
The film did very poorly at the box office, having essentially been dumped by the studio with little advertising to back it. With a budget of $27M[1], the film grossed only $8.086M domestically[1], and $3.225M in foreign release[1], making $11.3M worldwide. The opening weekend it grossed $3.255M.[1]
