Connie and Carla Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)April 21st, 2004
CONNIE AND CARLA
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Connie (writer Nia Vardalos, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") has dragged her friend Carla (Toni Collette, "Japanese Story") into her musical showbiz dreams since the two were in grade school. Her obsessive commitment to a gig at an airport lounge, where she and Carla also work as waitresses, has cost her her relationship with Al (Nick Sandow, "Swimfan"). When she and Carla go to protect their beneficent boss Frank, they witness a mob hit that may cost them their lives, so they hightail it to hide in L.A. There they find unlikely success as the drag queen duo "Connie and Carla."
Nia Vardalos's transition from indie hit to television sitcom was disastrous, inexplicable really, when her subpar sitcom writing somehow ends up on the tonier big screen. "Connie and Carla" is yet another exercise for its star to trot herself out for the admiration of a sexier costar, in this case David Duchovny ("Full Frontal"). Some effervescent musical numbers make her sophomore effort slightly more enjoyable, but it still plays like amateur hour on the backlot.
The plot, an obvious lifting of "Some Like It Hot" by way of "Victor/Victoria" with Duchovny in the Joe E. Brown role, has exactly one good idea in it - an amusing subplot involving a dimwitted Russian mobster, Tibor (Boris McGiver, "Jesus' Son"), becoming a musical aficionado while trying to track down the hit witnesses. (McGiver's hilarious, stupefied reaction when his boss Rudy (Robert John Burke, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind") doesn't share his enthusiasm for copping a matinee ticket for "Hairspray" is priceless.) Vardalos's message of acceptance is obvious and her treatment of her far more talented costar Collette shabby. (Collette, who seems cast for her oversized facial features, has a terrific singing voice, but gets little opportunity to do anything more than mug for the camera or sulk.) Debbie Reynolds' cameo appearance is sure to nudge this one over into gay cult territory. David Duchovny is charming in a pleasantly baffled way, although his involvement can only be explained as a yearning for own cross-dressing past in "Twin Peaks." Stephen Spinella ("Bubble Boy") manages some heartfelt moments as Duchovny's brother Robert aka Peaches.
Television director Michael Lembeck ("The Santa Clause 2," TV's "Friends") presents the material for its ideal smaller screen format and production designer Jasna Stefanovic ("Honey") achieves a believably low-rent environment. Hair, makeup and costume are elaborate and sometimes inventive, but the star never convinces as a drag queen although Collette fleetingly can. Vardalos, whose dialogue features such stunners as 'Why? Why not? You grow up. No, you grow up' as a lovers' spat, claims that "Connie and Carla" is based on her own experiences doing dinner theater, perhaps a more fitting venue for this simple, unoriginal story with it's amusing song and dance routines.
C-
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