In general, romantic comedies have a huge issue. They are very predictable and often too “sugary”. That is also the main reason that they often don’t appeal to me. Nevertheless, The Big Sick got a lot of positive reactions last year and the title also appeared on many top 10 lists. If that happens, that is enough reason to give a film a chance. And it delivered an entertaining and surprising two hours.
Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) is an Uber driver during the day and at night a stand-up comedian. He dreams about being discovered so he can eventually reach a larger audience. After one of his performances he meets Emily (Zoe Kazan). There is a chemistry between the two and they spend some time together. Yet it is not always easy for Kumail. His family tries to get him into an arranged marriage and because of this he regularly meets potential brides. When Emily finds out that creates friction and during a period when it doesn’t go well between the two, she is suddenly admitted to the hospital. Kumail decides to inform her parents and that is the beginning of an uncertain period.
The Big Sick shows how the differences between cultures can sometimes lead to difficult situations. Kumail Nanjiani wrote the script himself and based this on his real relationship. So it is a personal film for him and he has succeeded in translating that to the big screen. The Big Sick is filled with humor, but there is also enough space for romance, emotion, moments in which he shows what his culture entails and what kind of effects that can have. It is also refreshing to see that a large part is not actually about the relationship between Kumail and Emily, but about his relationship with her parents (nice roles by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter). It is a romantic comedy where the romance is present, but it is much more than that and fortunately also lacks predictability, which makes it tremendously refreshing to watch.
[score8]
Correction, Nanjiani wrote the script with his real-life wife Emily V. Gordon as the film was based on their real-life relationship. I think it’s an incredible film and I showed it to my mother last month and she loved it.
Thanks for that. I’ve seen it twice now and it was just as good and enjoyable as the first time I saw it.
I’ve not seen it. Glad to hear it’s not predictable and interesting a large part is about the relationship to parents.
Check it out if you can Chris…although I know your “to watch” list probably is way too long 😉