CONNIE AND CARLA

UIP

RELEASED 11 June 2004

In 2002, a micro-budgeted movie became a massive sleeper-hit in the US, building through great word-of-mouth and remaining in the top ten for months, ending the year as one of the biggest earners. ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s star and writer Nia Vardalos again writes and stars in her new movie ‘Connie and Carla’, with expectations high for a repeat success.

Connie (Nia Vardalos) and Carla (Toni Collette) are two small-town girls whose dreams of stardom have taken them nowhere. Slinging drinks and belting out tunes at a Midwestern airport lounge, the singing and dancing duo refuse to let the less-than-enthusiastic crowd response dampen their drive. When they unfortunately happen to witness their boss Frank end up on the fatal end of a criminal deal, they pack up their assortment of wigs and costumes and hit the road, running for their lives. 

Convinced the killers will never look for them in a place utterly devoid of culture, the pair ends up in Los Angeles. With new identities, they create a cover as drag queens and headline in a local drag club, soon building the acclaim that has always eluded them, singing the show tunes they've always loved.When Connie meets Jeff (David Duchovny), she no longer wants to pretend to be a girl, desperate to reveal her true sexuality to Jeff in the hope that he will sweep her off her high-heeled feet.

‘Connie and Carla’ borrows heavily from ‘Some Like It Hot’, giving the gender-bending a slight 21st century makeover. Funny moments pop up here and there but seem more suited to a sitcom than a big-screen comedy. The comforting predictability of the story put this viewer into a relaxed trance, happy to nod along to the obvious jokes and eventual rousing outcome. It’s something of a girls' night out movie, mixing drag queens with some good old-fashioned romance involving dishy David Duchovny (who certainly looks good in a snug-fitting T-shirt!) If you like ‘Greek Wedding’, you’re going to like this.

TWO OUT OF FIVE