The Big Sick (2017)

Review

120min

Genre:       Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director:    Michael Showalter

Cast:         Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter…and more

Writers:     Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani

-Synopsis-

American comedic star and writer Kumail Nanjiani teams up with co-writer and wife Emily V. Gordon to bring their autobiographical comedy to the screen—the story of a Pakistani immigrant and an American woman who struggle to make their unlikely relationship work, bridging a cultural divide between their families with hilarious consequences . . . and with a little help from a coma.

Like most cinematic genres and ever since its earliest days during golden era of Hollywood, the romantic comedy (or rom-com) has always had a mixed track record, occasionally producing some true classics like ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally…’, plus more recent standout efforts like ‘Jerry Maguire’ and a couple of memorable Richard Curtis concoctions like ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, all the way through to more modern irreverent tastes like ‘Wedding Crashers’ and Judd Apatow’s ‘Knocked Up’.

Yet no genre has become more stale and predictable than the rom-com, offering up a yearly dose of predictable characters and regurgitated narratives over the last couple of decades, and a misplaced sentimentality which often proves cringeworthy, or is drowned out by the comedy. Enter producer and comedy talent scout Apatow who teams up with Pakistani-born actor/comedian Nanjiani and his wife writer/producer Gordon, to tell the extraordinary story of their complicated early relationship—giving us one of the most original and well-balanced romantic comedy/dramas of the last decade . . . with a sprinkle of classic ‘clash-of-cultures’ comedy thrown into the mix.

Kumail Nanjiani essentially stars as himself, a part-time Uber driver and Chicago stand-up comic struggling to make it when he meets psychology student ‘Emily’ (played by Zoe Kazan), but their burgeoning relationship falters when his family destiny of an arranged marriage to a fellow Muslim surfaces, and it hits a major roadblock when Emily develops a strange infection and slips into a coma. When he’s forced to confront her spirited and resentful parents ‘Beth’ (Holly Hunter) and ‘Terry’ (Ray Romano), Kumail finds that the way to Emily’s heart may be through them, as an unlikely relationship develops between him and his future in-laws—with awkwardly hilarious and genuinely touching consequences.

Any fans of ‘Silicon Valley’ or the many TV shows and indeed several recent films he’s been a part of will be familiar with Nanjiani’s brand of perceptive, awkward and endearing humour, often referencing his Pakistani heritage and fish-out-of-water experiences in the US without using them as a crutch—and that’s the core of the humour in the ‘Big Sick’, which despite being adult in nature is never unduly crass and doesn’t wear out its welcome through its long but not excessive runtime, for a comedy.

Yet what separates this from most recent rom-coms and ‘romantic dramedies’ is the genuine pathos which makes it a finely balanced, honest and unexpectedly affecting film. We might have expected that the wonderful Holly Hunter would greatly contribute to the poignancy (and the comedy for that matter), but were pleasantly surprised by the nuanced dramatic contribution from comedic megastar Romano, and indeed Nanjiani himself.

‘The Big Sick’ is also a socially conscious and politically relevant film to a certain extent—albeit unintentionally according to its writers—helping to ‘normalise’ the perception of Muslims in the US and the west. It raises questions about the ‘American Dream’ in the 21st century, while skimming the surface of complex family issues regarding identity, and self-actualisation vs individual sacrifice in an increasingly individualistic society—but mostly this is a hugely charming and touching piece about the unusual way in which two people fell in love, and the unlikely way they made it work.

You could argue that with ‘The Big Sick’ Nanjiani is this year’s Amy Schumer, having his own ‘Trainwreck’ moment; a hit comedy film based (more literally) on his own life and brought to the screen by Judd Apatow, helping to elevate a successful stand-up comedian on a hit TV show to a new level of stardom. What’s clear to us though is that Nanjiani & Gordon’s collaboration with the superstar producer, and the film’s director Michael Showalter, has produced a charming and endearing comedy/drama which avoids the cringeworthy pitfalls of most rom-coms . . . elevating the genre in the process.

The Bottom Line…

Equal parts funny and touching, charming and perceptive, and refreshingly honest throughout, Nanjiani & Gordon’s true life story no doubt makes for an entertaining spectacle to begin with—but the layered accomplished performances all around and the quality of the writing make ‘The Big Sick’ an uplifting and finely balanced comedy/drama . . . and the rarity of a rom-com that we can really get on board with.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Trainwreck (2015)

Amy Schumer stars as an independent, fast-living and commitment-phobic magazine writer who has her long-held beliefs about monogamy challenged when she meets an abnormally good guy in this brash romantic comedy, featuring many of today’s top US comedians and athletes.

Directed by Judd Apatow and starring Amy Schumer, Bill Hader and Brie Larson among others.

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