Connie and Carla (2004)

Director:

Michael Lembeck

Writer (WGA):

Nia Vardalos (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

When you follow your dream, there's no telling what you'll become.

Plot:

A mob mix-up in Chicago sends two chanteuses screaming for L.A., where they score a perfect gig: posing as drag queens on the dinner theater/cabaret circuit. Things get extra-weird when a guy falls for one of the girls.

Plot Keywords:

Drag Queen | Mafia | Los Angeles California | Chicago Illinois | Female Impersonator

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Nia Vardalos	...	Connie
Toni Collette	...	Carla
David Duchovny	...	Jeff
Stephen Spinella	...	Robert / Peaches
Alec Mapa	...	Lee / N'Cream
Chris Logan	...	Brian / Brianna (as Christopher Logan)
Robert Kaiser	...	Paul
Ian Gomez	...	Stanley
Nick Sandow	...	Al
Dash Mihok	...	Mikey
Robert John Burke	...	Rudy
Boris McGiver	...	Tibor
Don Ackerman	...	Super Fey Guy
Debbie Reynolds	...	Herself (Special Appearance)
Veena Sood	...	Mrs. Morse

Also Known As:

Connie and Carla Do L.A. (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual humor and drug references.

Runtime:

USA:98 min | Argentina:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:18SX | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:MG6 | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Spyglass Entertainment

Trivia:

Nia Vardalos real life husband plays the owner of the club.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are doing the Evita number, the positions of their arms repeatedly change between shots.

Quotes:

Tibor: Ok, I have good news. I got a ticket to the matinee of Hairspray.

Movie Connections:

References Thelma & Louise (1991)

Soundtrack:

Cabaret

The Funniest Movie of the Winter/Spring 2004 Season

Connie and Carla received the biggest laughs so far from an audience that I've been with this year. The comic humor and the touching emotions exude of the screen in this movie echoing Whoopi Goldberg is The Sister Act and even earlier comedies by Some Like It Hot (1959). Nia Vardalos as Connie and Toni Collette as Carla are remarkable having to portray women being men being women. Even David Duchovny plays it for great dry humor laughs with excellent character acting. This underrated film goes over the top sometimes in its stereotypical portrayal of gay men (as is unfortunately typical), yet it attempts to maintain a sensitive presentation of the issue. Eight out of Ten Stars.