The premise puts the spotlight on Kumail Nanijani who you’ll recognize from HBO’s Silicon Valley. In this small gem, he’s a stand-up comic whose routines center around his Pakistani upbringing. In his hometown he learned to pray, play cricket and is expected to marry a nice Pakistani girl. End of story. Until….
Enter, Emily (Zoe Kazan) on Tuesday-Jello-shot-night. She’s ‘heckling’ him, if you can call it that, but nevertheless, a flirty banter ensues. They compare notes. In high school he was a dweeb, with a Hugh Grant fetish, and she was a ‘Goth’ with a Beetlejuice fetish. Now he’s an Uber driver trying to make a living writing comedy, and she’s going to get her Masters in Psychology.
But she’s also an American white girl. He’s Muslim. Can it work?
But, when Emily ends up in the ER, Kumail is introduced to her parents (a seasoned and passive role for Ray Romano, and a feisty, formidable, performance by Holly Hunter, who steals any show.)
This My Big Fat Greek Wedding scenario, delivers effortless comedy minus the crutch of toilet humor and raunchiness. Instead the story finds humor in good writing, all the while teaching the audience a thing or two about seeing life from the Muslim perspective. It’s almost the polar opposite of a terrorist joke…the flip side of a life as an American Muslim.
Produced by Judd Apatow (Trainwreck and Bridesmaid) it’s a softer, gentler version of his past hits. This is heart-warming and forgiving. Maybe because it’s directed by Michael Showalter who brought us similar feel-good quirkiness in last year’s Hello, My Name is Doris.
This is raw and rare reminder of life’s little occurrences and surprises…drama so well wrapped up in a comedy. It’s forgiveness at the heart of it…and one never sees that in satire.
Even the 9/11 discussion is delivered with wit and reflection. How does one do that about 9/11? See the movie. It’s the best comedy of the year. Four Tiaras