Connie and Carla

I just saw this yesterday, and thought it was excellent. The first half hour is a little slow and predictable, but once the movie gets going it is very funny. Yes, there are drag queens and when we saw it a few people walked out. But most of the crowd - a few kids, college students, and mostly older retired people - loved it! There are many funny scenes, and the movie itself could be called a musical, as there are plenty of renditions of broadway songs with the ladies dressed in drag. It is a cute story, the drag queens are very likeable and the movie makes some attempt to understand why they dress in drag, and to be understanding about the rest of the world's perception of them. Not everyone is ready to see a movie starring some drag queens, but for those that can look past that, it's a heartwarming story about friendship and acceptance :o)

Basically the synopsis is two girls (Connie and Carla) witness a murder and go on the run from the murderer. They end up as two women who find work in a club but have to disguise themselves as men who dress up as women. (Thats about as complicated as it gets). This is where Victor/Victoria and Sister Act come in.

True Connie and Carla is a combination of several films, including Some Like it Hot but I found it quite entertaining nevertheless.

To be honest I started watching with trepidation as I am a red blooded heterosexual and I thought that a film about cross dressers would not be much to my liking. But I was wrong.

For the most part I thought the script was tastefully written by Nia Vardalos (Connie), equally tastefully directed (Michael Lembeck) and acted by all concerned.

The soundtrack, although quite reasonable was not so good that it will be remembered but was catchy and enjoyable. The choreography quite passable and I did like the voice of Vardalos.

Although it will definitely never win any awards I would not be disappointed to find it in my Christmas Stocking.

Nia Vardalos certainly has both writing and acting talent.

I have always liked Toni Collette since her portrayal of Muriel in Muriel's Wedding. She has certainly lost some weight since ballooning in order to play that part.

Not the best ever movie but a deserved 6/10

"Connie and Carla" is about two dinner theater performers (Vardalos & Collette) who, on the lam from the mob, bring their musical show to L.A. where they pose as drag queens while one falls for a guy. More lively than sophisticated, this little musical romcom (emphasis on comedy) wears its flimsy premise out while filling in the blanks with loads of show tune song and dance snippets. A step down for writer and lead Vardalos, "C&C" makes for an ebullient, energetic, and somewhat lame powder puff and perfume comedy watch. Slammed by the critics with average marks from the public, "C&C" will play best with females and anyone into drag comedy and show tunes. (B-)

I was a skeptic about spending seven bucks to see this since I was probably the only viewer in the world who didn't like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". So, I waited for Netflix to send me the DVD. Got it today and watched it. Extremely funny picture until I saw the "DVD Bonus Material". There's fifty minutes of background, research, deleted scenes and musical numbers, outtakes, etc. and I felt I would've been robbed my admission if I hadn't been able to see what the director, Michael Lembeck deleted. The movie was only 98 minutes, including credits. I think Lembeck sold his audience short thinking that the film would be too long if he included thirty more seconds of Debbie Reynolds song...or the opening (male?) quartet in the finale...just one more minute. Mr. Lembeck, in the future, don't underestimate the knowledge of your audience...or don't let us see what you thought to be unworthy to fit into this film. There were some great scenes cut...which would have only added maybe ten extra minutes to the film. Give us our money's worth next time...or let someone else do your editing!

Toni Collette will face a lot of comparisons to another Tony: Tony Curtis from Some Like It Hot, and possibly even to Julie Andrews for her performance in Victor/Victoria, why? Simple, there just aren't that many mainstream drag queen movies out there. Should those judgement's toward previous entries into the genre be fair or not will be up to the audience. However, on it's own merit, I found the movie was incredibly well written, particular in the scenes involving the gay community in West Hollywood.

My only problem came with the cartoon-two dimensional depiction of the straights. Whether it be David Duchovny as the brother of a Drag Queen who wants to get close with his brother prior to his upcoming nuptials, his character's intolerant girlfriend who isn't aware of her future brother-in-law's lifestyle, or to a point even Nia Vardalos's acting in general...there were scenes that were stiff. Nia seriously reminds me of Al Gore...she has some moments of brilliance but more often than not, she is as stiff as a board and reminiscent of the talent you see in some small town dinner-theaters.

Despite throwing in the kitchen sink of every gay joke, save one...no references to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz...it was an overall enjoyable experience. Just enough titillation to warrant a good time by everyone.