Directed by:
Michael ShowalterCinematography:
Brian BurgoyneComposer:
Michael AndrewsCast:
Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Aidy Bryant, Bo Burnham, Adeel Akhtar, Linda Emond, Anupam Kher, Shenaz Treasury, Isabel Shill, Myra Turley (more)Plots(1)
When Emily (Zoe Kazan) contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) must navigate the crisis with her parents and the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart. (Roadshow Entertainment)
Videos (15)
Reviews (11)
Enthusiastic responses from Sundance announced that this may be the comedy of the year, but it’s no miracle - this independent romantic comedy is completely standard, and there are dozens to hundreds of similar films in existence. In fact, it is only moderately funny. However, it differs from the others with its Pakistani themes and cute origins, which is certainly a plus, as well as the unusual motifs of the mother separating her son from her family for disobeying cultural traditions, jokes about Muslim terrorists and possible metaphorical interpretations of the deadly consequences of lies among two partners.
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It follows strictly the tried and tested plot of a typical Sundance midcult feel-good flick; i.e. it’s not serious about serious things, with social overtones, not overdone and with likeable characters. Of course, it doesn't matter at all if it makes you laugh, moves you, and also teaches you something about cricket in Pakistan.
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An enjoyable film with a topical theme of Muslims and a very likeable main character, who unfortunately I didn't find funny at all in his stand up routines, but the film keeps a decent level thanks to intelligent dialogues, decent romance, strong emotions and you also learn something about Pakistani culture, so it's definitely a film worth watching. 75%
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It took me a while to get used to Kumail. For about twenty minutes, I was even pretty uncertain whether this comedy was actually a comedy, or if it was simply an unusual drama. But once Zoe Kazan made an appearance on the scene (or rather in a coma), a whirlwind of great situational humor started that went so natural for Kumail that it really was a pleasure to watch him. For instance, his first encounter with Emily’s parents is really good fun. And there are plenty more similar scenes in the film. Eventually, the unusual drama turns into an unusual dramedy which managed to put me in a really good mood that didn’t disappear even after I finished the movie. The thing is, I read about the film that it was based on a true story and that the main character is the same Kumail as the one in the film. At that point, the movie reached a whole new dimension.
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Don't expect a romantic comedy from this. Except for one inappropriate joke about September 11th and a few amusing moments, the attempts at humor fall flat - especially considering the environment of stand-up comedians in which Kumail works. As a melodrama that wants to touch and manipulate your emotions, it surprisingly works well. The mere three stars I'm giving it are due to the cast. The chemistry between the central duo is minimal, but it's not just about their interaction. They simply lack the charisma to capture the audience's attention and carry the main roles in their respective genre. Kumail is simply not Hugh Grant or Colin Firth, and Zoe Kazan is not Meg Ryan. And here's another observation: rather than an indie film from the Sundance festival, this reminds me of a Hollywood studio production. The arranged brides look like a portfolio of a Pakistani modeling agency, and potential conflicts and barriers are overlooked and retouched. Rebelling against established norms, such as arranged marriages, is one thing, but admitting to parents the loss of religious faith and transitioning to agnosticism or even atheism in the conservative environment of Pakistani Islamic conception is incomparably more serious and hardly imaginable. The only possible consequence here would be immediate and complete expulsion from the family and community. It is good to remember that the (extended) family and community have a crucial significance in Islamic society, which the individualistic and rationalized West usually underestimates and disregards. Overall impression: 65%.
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