The Big Sick is a quietly funny movie with an interesting history (2017, Rated R, Recently Released on DVD).
The movie stars Kumail Nanjiani, a stand-comedian who plays himself, and was written by Nanjiani and his wife, Emily Gordon. It's loosely based on their real-life relationship.
Pakistani-born Kumail and his family have lived in the U.S. for years, but Kumail's parents still expect him to follow Pakistani traditions, such as having an arranged marriage. They also want him to become a lawyer.
Instead, Kumail has become a stand-up comedian, and he falls in love with an American girl named Emily (Zoe Kazan). Their relationship falters, though, when Kumail refuses to introduce Emily to his parents. He can't even bring himself to inform his parents that he has a girlfriend, and that he's not interested in any of the Pakistani women to whom they introduce him.
Then the big sick occurs. Emily is sick––so dangerously ill that it's life threatening. Will Kumail choose his relationship with Emily or his relationship with his family, or will he find a way to have both?
I like this movie a lot. It has some poignant moments, but ultimately, everything works out (I say this for those of you who need to know that the movie won't depress you and there's a happy ending, but I don't think it's really a spoiler because I already told you that Kumail and Emily are married and they wrote the movie together; you should also take a look at the closing credits because they include some photos of Kumail and the real Emily, and Kumail's parents).
Kumail's difficulties with his parents are funny because Kumail can find the hilarity in them. Emily's parents are played by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. I love Holly Hunter. I always think that Ray Romano is playing Ray Romano, but he's okay, too.
The Big Sick earns The Janie Junebug Seal of Highest Approval. This is a movie I'll want to see again when it turns up on HBO or Netflix streaming. For my first viewing, I watched a DVD mailed to me by my friends at Netflix and delivered by my friendly neighborhood mail carrier.
Happy viewing! Beck, will you sing us out, please? Devils Haircut is part of The Big Sick's soundtrack.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
So glad to hear you like this. I love both Kumail and Emily. They are delightful and funny on every podcast I've heard them on. Yay! Now I want to see their movie. Boo, I'm poor and can't afford it until it shows up on a streaming service I subscribe to ("to which I subscribe," I know, please don't correct me).
ReplyDeleteNo corrections. If you want to see The Big Sick now, maybe Red Box has it.
DeleteThanks for this review. I was looking for a movie for Friday night at the lake
ReplyDeleteA perfect movie for Friday night at the lake.
DeleteI saw it & liked it!!
ReplyDeleteYour approval and my approval make the world go round.
DeleteIt sounds good. Which is something I rarely say about movies. I am a reader instead, and probably miss a lot.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that people who read miss very much. I love to read.
DeleteHey Janie, not sure if this is your bag but what about this?
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/HachetteCareers/status/909814588954333185
I know it is UK but people can work from anywhere now cant they...?
Yes, but I have my doubt about this being for real. Who looks for employees on Twitter?
Deletequite a few. plenty on facebook, why not twitter? its an agency. Look into it. Or as it says the job is orion what about going straight to the horse? the job is also listed on Indeed.co.uk which is a real job website. but here is the contact details for orion
Deletehttps://www.orionbooks.co.uk/Information/Careers.page
hachette is their parent company. heck its worth sending an enquiry, who know where it could lead? :)
This is one I will be sure to see (only when it gets to my Netflix/Amazon Prime, as i no longer have other movie vehicles) because I loved hearing the interviews with the real Emily and Kumail on NPR. I know something about culture bridging...
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look for those interviews.
DeleteSounds interesting! He's in an HBO series called Silicon Valley, too. Haven't seen that, either. I'll keep them on my radar. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think you would like this movie.
DeleteMaybe. Maybe not. And in reality probably not unless it just happens to be coming on sometime when I'm watching TV. Right now I have so many films waiting on my DVR that it's going to take a long long time to watch them all.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
So much is available to us now.
DeleteI thought it an interesting movie, but it didn't rise to the level of a great movie.
ReplyDeleteHi Janie - not really my sort of movie ... but can see it'd be a good film to watch with friends at some stage - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThis didn't really catch my attention when it was in theaters, but I'm willing to give it a Netflix stream... even if the ending is completely RUINED (just kidding, I've followed Kumail and Emily for a while now. I liked Kumail on @Midnight).
ReplyDeleteI want to see it. And I love the Beck song!
ReplyDeleteI had a mild interest in seeing this movie, but after reading that both you and Fran liked it, I reckon I HAVE to see it, now. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Janie! I've bookmarked this in my "Do!" list, so that I won't forget this movie. Sounds like a fun watch. Thanks for your review! Take care!
ReplyDeleteI only read far enough to see if you liked this as it is at the top of my must-see list!
ReplyDelete