Director Michael Showalter
Genre Comedy | Romance
Cast Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano
Rating R
Release Date July 14th, 2017
“A couple deals with their cultural differences as their relationship grows.”
The Big Sick is a comedy drama based on a true story. It is directed by Michael Showalter, who previously directed the 2015 indie comedy Hello, My Name Is Doris. The film is written by Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani. The cast includes Kamil Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano.
In the vein of unique comedy dramas like 50/50, The Big Sick brings to the forefront a powerful true story while genuinely entertaining its audience. After months of anticipation for this film to release, I was more than pleased with the final product. I referenced the Jonathan Levine directed comedy drama 50/50, which stars Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Seth Rogan, because I feel that these film have similarities, and to be honest 50/50 is easily one of my favorite films. The Big Sick separates itself in a few different ways, one of which because it is a true story, and that allows everything to feel very grounded throughout. This story feels incredibly authentic, and it is very funny, sad, and above all else extremely entertaining. The Big Sick is about more than relationships, or even sickness for that matter, it is about the bond of family, friendships, and ultimately relationships as a whole. Audiences are given a glimpse of what it is like for a traditional Pakistani family living in Chicago and raising an aspiring stand-up comedian son, who has gravitated towards the American way of life. I am always fascinated by other cultures and how different their way of life is compared to that of my own, and as I have gotten older I have understood that more than anything else, different does not mean better, or worse, for that matter, it is just different. The Big Sick tells a very complicated story, and it tells that story in such a way that it pulls you in and makes you a part of it. This is fantastic storytelling. It doesn't tug at the heart strings as much as I thought that it would, but that certainly doesn't take away from the overall effectiveness of the story.
The Big Sick has the clear advantage of a very talented, yet perhaps underappreciated cast. Lead by one of the stars of HBO's hit comedy series Silicon Valley, Kumail Nanjiani (its actually easier to spell than you would initially think), the film is in good hands from the onset. Not only is the film co-written by Nanjiani, it is based on the incredible true story of how he met his longtime girlfriend. Nanjiani was a stand-up comedian at the time, and years later finding his footing in the acting world, he was able to play himself. I'll keep it simple by saying he did an amazing job. Most notably, I couldn't get enough of the interactions he had with his traditional Pakistani family, especially his brother, and how hilariously awkward they were. Starring alongside Nanjiani was the cute and talented Zoe Kazan, in the role of his real-life girlfriend. Kazan was fantastic in her role as she helped to bring to life a special story and make it feel as real as it did when it actually happened. And of course I need to give kudos to Ray Romano, the king of television. After watching the trailers I expected his role to be more quirky, but he had the perfect balance of funny and serious. He was the perfect choice to play the girlfriend's father. Holly Hunter was exceptional as the girlfriend's mother, and I really enjoyed the chemistry she shared with Romano. She embodied a strong spirit, projecting her character as independent yet still in need of love from those closest to her.
The Big Sick is a hilarious and touching film that has earned its rightful place as one of the best films of 2017. I am having a hard time saying that it is better than 50/50, just because that really is one of my favorite films to release in the last 7 years or so, but it is close. Both manage to squeeze into that rare category of comedy dramas that can also be considered romantic comedies, more so The Big Sick, without segregating a certain audience like most traditional romantic comedies would. And that in itself is an impressive accomplishment. This is a film that has a big heart, and not just because it is based on an amazing true story, but because it appeals to us as human beings in so many different ways. The Big Sick is a summer movie that that is absolutely worth your time. Highly recommended.
