The Big Sick (2017)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Big Sick (2017) – M. Showalter

Subtitled “An Awkward True Story” which sort of sums it up.  This is a romantic comedy based on the real experiences of star and co-writer Kumail Nanjiani (from Pakistan originally) who wrote the script with his European-American wife Emily Gordon about the difficulties at the start of their cross-cultural relationship. Kumail is a comedian but the humour here comes less from his stand-up show and more from the situations that he finds himself in (and his funny retorts).  Awkward, yes. But more important is the fact that the script allows some excellent actors (Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher) to create some rich multi-faceted characters who face difficult situations humanly (and humanely). You see, the plot finds Kumail and Emily (Kazan) falling in love (with some cheesy moments) but then facing difficulties due to the influence of his parents who want him to marry a Pakistani girl.  They break up just before she gets really sick.  This makes things pretty heavy (lots of hospital time).  Fortunately, the emotions seem true even if the script doesn’t always find the right words.  Your heart is supposed to get touched…and it does.  Also, I did laugh.  So, a winner from this often justly maligned genre.