Three cheers to the best “awards movie” I’ve seen thus far that has DELIVERED. Guys…this is two movies in a row that I’ve really, really enjoyed! If you haven’t yet seen The Big Sick, get on your amazon prime account and watch it! I’m not sure it’s exactly “must-see” fare, but it IS so, soooo worth watching. Funny, sweet, well written, well acted, moving…it’s got it.
THE BLURB:
Kumail is a Pakistani comic who meets an American graduate student named Emily at one of his stand-up shows. As their relationship blossoms, he soon becomes worried about what his traditional Muslim parents will think of her. When Emily suddenly comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma, Kumail finds himself developing a bond with her deeply concerned mother and father.
WHAT WORKED:
Kumail Nanjiani, Kumail Nanjiani, KUMAIL NANJIANI.
Most of you probably know Mr. Nanjiani from Silicone Valley, but my introduction to him was as an audience member for Star Dreck, a nerdist network podcast recorded live at the Nerdmelt Showroom in Hollywood. Matt Mira was the other co-host, I think, as were Chris Hardwick and special celebrity guest Wil Wheaton…special, because it was the LAST taping they were ever going to do. Crushed was I when I found that out 😛
Kumail is so, so funny – that showed through that night, it’s shown through in everything I’ve seen since, and it especially PARTICULARLY showed through in this film, which he also co-wrote with his actual wife. Yes. This movie is based on a true story. Kumail has that charm, man, that “it” factor of someone who’s so genuinely talented that it shines through the screen.
The writing was excellent; an incredible, sounds-like-real-life-and-real-people give and take between laughs, tears, and just plain awkwardness in the face of a completely overwhelming situation. It was so REAL. Bravo.
The supporting cast; good lord. Ray Romano and Holly Hunter amazing, of course, that was expected. What wasn’t so expected? EVERYONE ELSE. His friends felt like my friends. Kumail’s parents and his brother and sister? They might have been my favorite part of the whole movie. Wonderful. And huge, HUGE ups to Zoe Kazan who was just so, soooooo freaking GOOD. Seriously, you guys, I cannot express how amazing this cast was. They’re all the kind of actors and characters that you can fall in love with…and I did.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
…not much, to be honest. Did this movie push the boundaries of film? No. Is it going to be a movie that I will watch each and every time its on because it got under my skin THAT much? No. But, man…that doesn’t diminish this movie for me really at all. It’s another one of those feel-good, small movies, and fuck…we NEED those movies.
Kumail also struggled during his dramatic break-down scenes, and to be honest, that probably cost him an Oscar nod here…but again…watch the movie. You’re not going to care, really, because you were so in on caring about him and those around him miles before that point.
This movie is one of those little, very personal, sleeper “indies” that get attention because they were just made so damn well. This movie will not disappoint you. It’ll make you care about their story, and it will make you care about those in your own life that you love to pieces and can never ever EVER get sick, okay? Is that clear? Ever. You know who you are. Both two-leggeds and four-leggeds. Because I don’t what I would do.
Go watch it.
8/10 – recommended