Can Love Conquer All? "The Big Sick"

The Big Sick (2017)

Rated R

Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff

Directed by Michael Showalter

The Story:

Kumail (Nanjiani) is a stand up comedian. He meets Emily (Kazan) one night after his performance. The two hit it off, and the next thing you know, they are seemingly in love. But life and conflicting cultural expectations interfere, and soon Emily is in a coma with a mysterious ailment, and Kumail realizes he may lose the one thing in life he's always wanted, before he even realized that's what he needed.

Well, let me start by saying that I wasn't paying attention to the poster for this film or its tag line: An Awkward True Story.

So when it got to the end of the film, like a sucker punch of emotion, the ending brought home how sweet and sincere this film really is.

An Amazon Studios original film, while I watched it on disc through Netflix, it is now finally available to stream on Amazon for those with Prime membership.

Kumail's trials aren't isolated to his relationship with Emily either.

He also has to deal with Emily's parents (Hunter & Romano) who are initially not that impressed that he's even at the hospital when they arrive, but her perseveres in his devotion to Emily and his willingness to accept not being in his comfort zone around her parents.

Then there is dealing with his own family (Kher & Shroff) at home and their desire for him to marry within his culture.

A wonderful cast, a beautiful story, and Kumail more than easily carries the majority of the film on his shoulders.

Highly recommended if you haven't seen it already.

Final Grade: A-

"What If" This Movie Had Been Better?

What If (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Megan Park, Rafe Spall

Directed by Michael Dowse

The Story:

Wallace (Radcliffe) meets Chantry (Kazan) and the two immediately connect. However, Wallace has been burned by love too often, so he's only too happy to remain friends with her, and that works for Chantry also because she already has a boyfriend (Spall). Of course, this wouldn't be a romantic comedy if the two didn't naturally want to take their friendship to the next level. As always though, crossing that line may not be easy, or desirable.

This movie was much funnier when it was called When Harry Met Sally.

:)

Otherwise, it's a harmless, mostly by the numbers romantic comedy that follows the typical stereotype that yes, men and women can just be friends, but invariably, someone might change their mind and want to take things further.

You'd think they could make one where the two don't fall in love, but then, that would be just like real life, and could be boring.

My first recollection of seeing either of the two leads in a film, alone or together. Their chemistry almost works as friends, but it's hard to believe either want to make a go of it with the other.

Would you believe me if I said this was the first film I've watched with Daniel Radcliffe in it?

True story.

Never was interested in Harry Potter, so never bothered.

He seems like a pretty good actor, if a bit bland.

I don't see him as much of a leading man candidate. He doesn't have the charm of a Hugh Grant or the personification of an action/thriller star.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm thinking this is Macauley Culkin 2.0.

Time will tell.

Final Grade: C

Easily The Worst Movie of 2014...So Far... "Ruby Sparks"

Ruby Sparks (2012)
Rated R for Language, and possibly making me want to kill myself instead of watching the film...

Starring Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan,  Elliot Gould, Steve Coogan

Directed by Johnathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

Now I need therapy...

The Story:

According the to the internet, this movie was supposed to be about a novelist (Dano) who creates a girl named Ruby Sparks (Kazan) who mysteriously and magically comes to life with all of the attributes that he said she would have. 

Yes, it's Weird Science remade!

The Best Part of the Review: You Now Have the "Weird Science Song Stuck in Your Head! : )

Except...

It wasn't funny.

John Hughes was not involved in any way.

And after 15 minutes that felt like 45 minutes of torture, it was turned off, thrown back into the Netflix envelope and sent back to Netflix HQ.

Looking at overall reviews for this film, apparently I'm the one that doesn't get the awesomeness of this movie.

I'm okay with that.

Watching Dano go through therapy with Elliot Gould and whining about not knowing what to write next to his agent, Steve Coogan, I had enough.

This was a waste of talent on a hackneyed script that lost any goodwill with the premise by being...

Boring.

"Can We Look Now? Is He Done Bashing Our Movie?"

It's marketed as a comedy.  It wasn't funny.

It's marketed as a drama.  It wasn't dramtic.

It wasn't a dramedy.

It. Was. Boring.

ZzzzzZzzzzZzzzz.

"I Can't Believe He Doesn't Like Us!!"

Written by Kazan, the script is tedious at best from the time it starts until I clicked it off.  If it had a better ending, hooray, but nothing could beat my ending of removing the film.

Directed by the team that brought us Little Miss Sunshine, I now begin to understand all the accolades for the film.  I felt that Little Miss Sunshine was one of the most overrated films of the 2000s.  Again, a movie that was neither drama nor comedy.  It simply existed.  The best part of the film was Alan Arkin, and the rest was simply a tedious waste of a really good assembled cast.

"We're What Everyone Is Buzzing About!"

Sounds familiar.

Apparently Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas, both of whom I love to watch in the movies were in this film. 

I never made it that far.

"But This Is What You're Missing!!"

No thanks, I'll pass.

And welcome to the Top of the List for Turkey of the Year, 2014:  Ruby Sparks.

That makes 2 for the year so far.

Yikes.

I haven't even found a movie to go on the "Best of the Year" list yet!

If you want a good movie about a writer who controls the fate of their character,  watch Stranger Than Fiction instead.

"It is Your Destiny..."

Please.

I'm begging you.


Final Grade: F

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: No. Never.