Connie and Carla

Connie and Carla
Directed by	Michael Lembeck
Written by	Nia Vardalos
Produced by	Gary Barber Roger Birnbaum Jonathan Glickman Tom Hanks
Starring	Nia Vardalos Toni Collette and David Duchovny
Music by	Randy Edelman
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	April 16, 2004
Running time	98 min.
Language	English

Connie and Carla is a 2004 film directed by Michael Lembeck and starring Nia Vardalos, Toni Collette and David Duchovny.

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

Template:Spoiler Vardalos and Collette play the title characters, whose lifelong friendship and co-obsession with musical theatre 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 L.A.. Initially working at a beauty salon, they wind up posing as drag queens and auditioning to host a drag review at a gay club.

Because they sing their own songs (a rarity for queens), they are hired, and their variety show 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 (Duchovny), the straight brother of one of their drag queen friends. As the show gets bigger, the two convince the club owner to convert it into a full dinner theater, and eventually their popularity threatens to expose them.

Ultimately they confess their real identities on the opening night of the official dinner theater, and are accepted for who they really are. Later that night the mafia boss catches up with them, but with the help of their drag queen friends, and to great applause from the audience (who think it must be part of the act), they take him down. Connie reveals herself to Jeff, who is able to accept her as a love interest. Template:End spoiler

Cast

Nia Vardalos -- Connie
Toni Collette -- Carla
David Duchovny -- Jeff
Stephen Spinella -- Robert/Peaches
Alec Mapa -- Lee/N'Creme
Chris Logan -- Brian/Patty Melt
Robert Kaiser -- Paul
Ian Gomez -- Stanley
Nick Sandow -- Al
Dash Mihok -- Mikey
Robert John Burke -- Rudy
Boris McGiver -- Tibor
Don Ackerman -- Super Fey Guy
Veena Sood -- Mrs. Morse
And a special appearance by Debbie Reynolds as Herself.

Box Office

The film did very poorly at the box office, having essentially been dumped by the studio with little advertising to back it. With a budget of $20M, the film grossed only $8M.

External links

• Connie and Carla at IMDb