The Big Sick is probably the best received dramedy I've seen since maybe Knocked Up. Produced by Knocked Up's Judd Apatow and directed by Michael Showalter, The Big Sick has mostly nailed its behind the scenes team and they don't let us down here. The Big Sick is funny, heartfelt and, at times, very moving but it does not change the fact that it is 20 minutes too long and harps on the same jokes when it backs itself into a corner. Showalter and his brilliant cast made up of Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan and Ray Romano, make The Big Sick a very nice watch but they make it good enough to make you wish it was a better film.
The Big Sick tells the story of a Pakistani born comedian (Nanjiani) who meets and falls for a college student (Kazan) at one of his shows. The film then chronicles their relationship as they combat their cultural differences, both presented by society and themselves. The story is unique and very organic. It takes experience to write something like this and it really comes through here. The script is very close to perfection regarding story but it is bogged down by listless banter that continues on for a bit too long in certain takes. This is not the script. Much of the banter feels genuine, which is awesome, but it feels too long during certain sequences. By the end of the film, it gets a tad bit annoying to see actors flounder during moments of comedic banter. It works most of the time but those moments that don't work feel slow and unimportant. It sticks out like a sore thumb amidst comedic genius and fits the Judd Apatow standard for comedy: he simply gives us too much and we just end up not caring about it.
Despite the film feeling too long at times and the banter feeling over indulgent, The Big Sick is a film that EVERYONE can relate to. No matter if your relationship is interracial or not, the film goes beyond that. It touches base on what it's like dating someone of another religion, another political belief, another...whatever. It is relateable on multiple levels and, for that, The Big Sick is definitely worth checking out. The leads in Kumail Nanijian and Zoe Kazan are incredible and the two bring both gravitas and realism to their roles. Overall, I think the movie (while overrated) is a good romantic comedy. However, when compared to other romantic comedies, The Big Sick is in a masterclass by itself. If you like romantic comedies, this is a must see.
The Big Sick tells the story of a Pakistani born comedian (Nanjiani) who meets and falls for a college student (Kazan) at one of his shows. The film then chronicles their relationship as they combat their cultural differences, both presented by society and themselves. The story is unique and very organic. It takes experience to write something like this and it really comes through here. The script is very close to perfection regarding story but it is bogged down by listless banter that continues on for a bit too long in certain takes. This is not the script. Much of the banter feels genuine, which is awesome, but it feels too long during certain sequences. By the end of the film, it gets a tad bit annoying to see actors flounder during moments of comedic banter. It works most of the time but those moments that don't work feel slow and unimportant. It sticks out like a sore thumb amidst comedic genius and fits the Judd Apatow standard for comedy: he simply gives us too much and we just end up not caring about it.
Despite the film feeling too long at times and the banter feeling over indulgent, The Big Sick is a film that EVERYONE can relate to. No matter if your relationship is interracial or not, the film goes beyond that. It touches base on what it's like dating someone of another religion, another political belief, another...whatever. It is relateable on multiple levels and, for that, The Big Sick is definitely worth checking out. The leads in Kumail Nanijian and Zoe Kazan are incredible and the two bring both gravitas and realism to their roles. Overall, I think the movie (while overrated) is a good romantic comedy. However, when compared to other romantic comedies, The Big Sick is in a masterclass by itself. If you like romantic comedies, this is a must see.