Poster Analysis

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is romantic comedy and this is suggested from the colour scheme in the poster. There is a great deal of the colour white in the poster which is associated with Rom-Com’s as from previous research I have noticed that this is a prominent colour when advertising this genre as some connotations of the colour are happiness, purity, marriage and innocence. The colour blue is also a big part of this poster which is maybe linked to the Greek flag as the colours are white and blue.

The sky behind the characters is very typically suggested when representing a film that has a happy ending as the sky seems perfect. The skyline shows that there is a comparison in the two characters as they are from different backgrounds and also tells the audience where the film is set. By the characters being high up and looking across the skyline could also represent that the couple feel that ‘the world is their oyster’ because they are starting this new life together. In connection with the comparison of the two different characters and their cultural backgrounds the title has incorporated Greek style writing as well as basic font which suggests that the two different characters have become one with their marriage. It also is another way of representing to the audience the difference between them and maybe implies that the cultural differences are sometimes going to be a problem but they overcome them. The words gradually get longer and slightly bigger as they go on which gives the image of a wedding cake with different tiers to it. This links in with the theme of the film and tiers could be a reference to the different layers of their relationship which has come together at the marriage.

The white strip on the left hand side of the poster is filled with members of the woman’s family. We know that it is her side of the family as she is the one that seems to be pushing them out of the poster from her positioning. She is closest to the family members whereas the man is closest to the skyline in the poster which again shows the different culture between them both. All the family members look very happy and enthusiastic which suggests that the family are quite over the top and loud which is a stereotypical view of Greek families. They are all leaning in with no order of how they are placed which implies this idea of the family trying to be involved in their relationship and that they are all very close. The family are from the top to the bottom of the strip which tells the audience that they are a big family and that there is no way of getting away from them for privacy. There is confetti at the top of the strip which is typically suggested with weddings and ties in with the dress of all the characters as well as the title of the film.

All of the characters are presented in dresses and suits which is what is expected from the title of the film. We can see that one of her members of family is wearing blue which links back to the colour scheme I mentioned before. The elderly character is wearing head piece which shows the religious side to the family and that it is important to them. With the clue in the title ‘Big Fat Greek wedding’ we see the woman dressed in a big white dress that is to the floor. It is very fairytale like which implies that there is going to be a happy ending. The man is dressed in a suit like the family members but he’s bow tie is undone which gives a sense of him being very relaxed and calm compared to her hectic family. It also helps with branding him as the good looking gentlemen who saved her from her family.

The family members are all looking at the couple which shows they are happy for them whereas the woman is looking towards us with a smile on her face. The man is gazing as the woman which tells us that he is totally in love with her and gives this idea of him not being able to take his eyes off of her. The woman’s smile tells us that she is happy but maybe suggests that she is overwhelmed to find her true love and from the man’s quite seductive positioning that she finds him incredibly attractive. The positioning of the couple tells us that they are comfortable with each other however from her trying to push her family out shows she is embarrassed by them. From the woman looking directly at us and none of the other characters also suggests that we are going to hear the story form her perspective as she appears to be the main character as all the attention is drawn to her.

The text on the poster ‘Love is here to stay…so is her family’ supports this idea of however hard the woman tries to block out her family they will always be there. At the top of the poster there are the names of the actors and actresses who have a main part in the film. The font is very basic and it is all capitalised to make it very clear. There is again the use of the colour blue but darker so it stands out against the background. It is evenly placed above the title which is in the centre of the image of the skyline. I think it is interesting that they decided to place the title in the middle of the skyline image instead of the poster as a whole. I think this could be to show that it is the story between the couple and the couple are the ones in front of the skyline.

From analysing this poster I believe that the target audience for this poster is women aged from around 20-35 years old as this is where the majority of people in their lives get married and would be able to relate to the film in their own way. However I think most women would enjoy the film as it has humour as well as romance and probably at some point in their lives they will be able to relate to some of the characters situations and emotions.