My Big Fat Greek Wedding

[Ian (John Corbett) is on his first date with Toula (Nia Vordalus).  Toula is Greek, which is kind of a crazy world as she explains, but she feels like she is defined by this world, and that she is trapped.]

Ah, the beauty of a first date.  Do you remember your first date with your husband/wife? fiancee? girl/boyfriend? The beauty of it is coupled up in this understanding that the other person is a mystery that you are fascinated by and want to know more about.  This is a movie in which a girl who feels so trapped by her family is able to come to terms with the fact that there is a bigger wider world that is full of wonderful non-Greek people.  

Toula is on the date with Ian, but she is so overwhelmed, that even though the date is going well she fears that it won't end well because she is Greek.  Ian says it so wonderfully, "we are not different species, we are both human people."  He has clearly stated his intentions, he wants to get to know her.  She is so afraid but our family is the soul definition of who we are.  As the movie unfolds we learn that, of course, family is important.  It does effect and change who we are, but it is not the sole criteria.  Look at me and my brother, or other families and the differences just between siblings, let alone other relations.  We are trapped only so far as we lack the will to act.