This was a film that I couldn't wait to see. In an odd way, I related to it, as the only guy I dated for more than two dates was from Pakistan. He was a jerk, far more so than Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani), but that's a whole other story.
To the film, here we have Kumail, from Pakistan, who doesn't fit into his parents' mold of being a perfect son. He works for Uber and also works as a stand up comedian and constantly have to deal with his mother's attempts at matchmaking. Then, at one of his shows, he meets grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan). They hit it off so well, having sex on the first date. But there is a genuine attraction between the two of them. Despite Emily declaring several times that she is not dating anyone at the moment, they nevertheless start dating.
And then, just like that, they aren't dating anymore. Emily is furious when she discovers Kumail's little black box, filled of pictures of women his mother has attempted to set him up with. He hasn't told his parents about her because of the whole arranged marriage thing and how he doesn't want to lose his family just because he's dating a white girl. Of course she doesn't take it that well and there relationship is over.
Kumail is literally in bed with another woman (rebound much) when Emily's friend calls him to tell him that Emily's in the ER with a bad case of the flu. She doesn't want him there but he stays anyway which is good because Emily's condition continues to deteriorate. In fact, one doctor basically forces Kumail to admit that he's Emily husband so they can better treat her severe lung infection by putting her into a medically induced coma. They can't wait until Emily's parents arrive from North Carolina.
Emily's parents each have colorful personalities and are pretty awesome people who have a fairly realistic view on things. Terry (Ray Romano) and Beth (Holly Hunter) aren't exactly thrilled to see Kumail there and in fact, especially at first, Beth is downright rude to him. Kumail admits that he made a mistake with Emily and Beth merely smirks and agrees. She doesn't understand why he's around now, considering he wasn't when she was still awake and alert so why should he be around now. But he just can't stay away though it cannot be easy watching someone hooked up to plenty of machines breathing for her and having no idea how much she understands. He eventually wins over her parents and in one of the funnier scenes Beth nearly beats up a guy who cruelly and ignorantly heckles Kumail as he attempts to perform stand up.
Emily's surgery goes well to remove the infection but it continues to spread throughout her body and then Terry and Beth argue, believing that they should move her to a better hospital. Terry wants her to stay (as does Kumail, who doesn't really get a vote but he actually talked to the nurse, what a radical idea) while Beth wants to move her to a better ranked hospital. It is then that Terry admits to Kumail that he cheated on Beth, just once and felt like complete crap about it, as he should. Terry also states that you don't understand how much you love another person until you cheat on them, what kind of oxymoron statement is that? Then he gives in and allows Beth to move her, though that is thwarted as the infection moves to Emily's heart.
Her actual diagnosis is soon learned all from an almost toss away line from Kumail, saying that she twisted her ankle a few days before she became dangerously ill. And it never healed so they are finally able to discover that Emily suffered from the rare but treatable adult-onset Still's disease. She starts her recovery almost immediately, beginning with waking up, and she isn't thrilled to see him there.
She recovers quickly and though he apologizes, truly and finally confronts his parents with the truth, she doesn't take him back. She does thank him for everything and sort of wants to get back together but it's too soon and she doesn't want to come between him and his family. So Kumail moves to New York with two of his good comedian friends (they are both good friends and comedians as opposed to his roommate who isn't that funny). It isn't until Emily goes to visit him at one of his shows that you know the relationship can finally begin again.
This was an excellent film with some brilliant performances and dialogue and though the subject is difficult and painful, the film manages to be truly funny. The scene I appreciated the most is one between Kumail and one of the girls his mother tries to set him up with. He ends things before they can even begin and tells her that she deserves better. She says that she will decide what she deserves (how true) and that he needs to stop apologizing.
The problem I have is that they sleep together on the first date. I'm sure this does happen, but it shouldn't. Sex is not something that can be taken lightly as it is in the vast majority of Hollywood films and TV shows (a notable exception is the superb Jane the Virgin). Sex should not be expected on the first date. And Hollywood needs to stop glorifying it and making it socially acceptable. That is a rant I should have gone on a long time ago, considering it happens rather frequently (consider Moonstruck).
Okay, end of rant, back to the film. Basically, go see this movie. It will not disappoint. Though it deals with the typical, tried and true plot of families not liking their child to date anyone different from their culture, this has a refreshing and tragic turn, anchored by the seamless casting. This film should catapult Kazan and Nanjiani to full-fledged stardom. Goodness knows they deserve it already. Grade: A-
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