Connie and Carla

Connie and Carla

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Michael Lembeck
Produced by
Written by Nia Vardalos
Starring
Music by Randy Edelman
Cinematography Richard Greatrex
Edited by David Finfer
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Studios
Release dates
  • April 16, 2004 (2004-04-16)
Running time
 97 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $27 million[2]
Box office $11.3 million[2]

Connie and Carla is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck and starring Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette, and David Duchovny. The screenplay was written by Vardalos.

The film was shot in Vancouver and featured a number of local drag queens.

Plot

Connie (Nia Vardalos) and Carla (Toni Collette) are two performers whose lifelong friendship and co-obsession with musical theater have brought nothing but career dead ends. Despite this they continue their optimism, hosting a variety act at an airport lounge. After accidentally witnessing a mafia hit in Chicago, they go on the run, landing in Los Angeles. After being fired from a beauty salon, they pose as drag queens and audition to host a drag revue at a gay club called "The Handlebar."

Because they sing their own songs (a rarity for queens), they are hired, and their variety show (at first titled What a Drag (Pun Intended!) then later re-titled Connie and Carla and the Belles of the Ball after they add a few friends to the act) becomes a hit. Things are going smoothly but the two make a pact not to let men interfere with their life. This causes conflict when Connie falls for Jeff (David Duchovny), the straight brother of Robert (Stephen Spinella), one of their drag queen friends. As the show gets bigger, the two convince the club owner, Stanley (Ian Gomez), to convert it into a full dinner theater, and eventually their popularity threatens to expose them.

On the official opening night of the dinner theater, the mob killers catch up with them. But with the help of their drag queen friends, and to great applause from the audience (who think it is part of their act), Connie and Carla take them down. They ultimately confess their real identities to the audience and are accepted for who they are. Connie reveals herself to Jeff, who arrives after the chaos. He accepts her and becomes her boyfriend.

Musicals referenced or featured

The following is a list of musicals referenced or featured in the film (in the order of which they are presented in the film):

Cast

Release

Box office

The film had a budget of $27 million,[2] and grossed $8,085,771 domestically,[2] and $3,255,245 in foreign release,[2] making $11,341,016 worldwide. The film grossed $3,254,940 during its opening weekend, opening at number 13 in the 4/16-18 weekend box office.[2] The film has been released on DVD and incorrectly has the runtime at 1 hour, 48 minutes. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 44% critic score and a 71% audience score.[3]

Trivia

In the 1994 film Forrest Gump, eighty minutes into the film, Forrest (Tom Hanks) is introduced by Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) to two girls named Connie and Carla at bar on New Year's Eve. Tom Hanks is one of the producers of the film Connie & Carla.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CONNIE AND CARLA (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. March 18, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connie and Carla, Box Office Mojo website
  3. ↑ Connie and Carla.

External links

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