The Big Sick

The Big Sick, directed by Michael Showalter, was released in 2017. This romantic comedy-drama, which is inspired by the real-life love story of its leading actor Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon, takes a heartfelt and hilarious approach to culturally complex themes such as love, commitment, identity and family expectations. It uses comedy as a way of navigating the difficult subjects of sickness and cultural barriers. The film was produced by Judd Apatow, a well-established name known for an impressive portfolio of movies and features an ensemble cast, which includes Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, and Ray Romano.

Kumail Nanjiani, known for his roles in sitcoms like Silicon Valley, steps into the shoes of a fictional version of himself for this movie. A struggling stand-up comedian in Chicago, Kumail's life takes an unexpected turn after meeting Emily, played with incredible charisma by Zoe Kazan. He meets Emily at one of his stand-up comedy shows when she playfully heckles him during his set. This turns into a one-night-stand, which eventually segues into a full-blown relationship.

As the two grow close, the plot is infused with an inevitable clash of culture as Kumail grapples with his traditionalist Pakistani family’s expectation for him to partake in an arranged marriage with a Pakistani girl. He starts to feel the pressure brought on by his family’s incompatibility with his relationship with Emily, a caucasian American woman.

As both characters navigate their relationship in the face of these cultural barriers, the film takes an unexpected turn. Emily suddenly becomes seriously ill and is put into a medically induced coma. This is where "The Big Sick" drives away from the typical romantic comedy and grapples with much heavier themes. Emily’s illness thrusts Kumail into a devastating situation as he comes to question not only his authenticity towards Emily but also his commitment to his own cultural heritage.

Holly Hunter and Ray Romano step into Emily's storyline as Emily's parents who, initially, are skeptical if not hostile towards Kumail, given he's broken their daughter's heart due to his reluctance in introducing Emily to his traditional Pakistani-Muslim family. Kumail, however, eventually forms an unexpected bond with Emily's parents, with several touchingly real and comic moments providing a fresh layer of depth to the film.

The movie skillfully blends elements of comedy with heartrending drama and the ups and downs of Kumail and Emily's story maintains an earnestness which is hard to find in contemporary cinema. Nanjiani's acting prowess lies in his humor but in 'The Big Sick', he also exhibits his versatility as he seamlessly drifts between emotional turmoil, warm humor, and earnest vulnerability.

The screenplay of The Big Sick is a delightful narrative of cultural compromise, identity, and love overcoming tremendous obstacles. It's filled with many genuine moments that magnetize the audience towards the characters. This is credit to the script-writing duo, Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, who've drawn on their own experiences to create an authentic narrative.

On the technical front, the cinematography by Brian Burgoyne is natural and unobtrusive, as it captures the character-driven, heavily-dialogue driven moments in soft, diffused lighting that creates intimate settings against the backdrop of Chicago.

The Big Sick defies the norms of the traditional romantic comedies. It also gives American audiences a profound insight to South Asian families, emphasizing on familial duties, the custom of arranged marriages, and religion impacting the lives of young Pakistani Americans. It provides a poignant commentary on how contemporary relationships sometimes require the bridging of vastly different backgrounds and cultures. Yet, it does it all while remaining genuinely funny, heartfelt and inspiring.

Despite a run time of 124 minutes, the movie never seems to drag its feet. Credit for that goes to the directors' skill and an excellently-paced script which captivates the audience’s attention from start till the end.

In conclusion, The Big Sick is a critically acclaimed must-watch movie, serving as a solid evidence of the power of comedy as a medium to deliver human stories filled with depth, nuance, and complex emotion. It leaves the audience with a rare warmth that lingers long after the credits roll. It is not just a rom-com, but a story about resilience, cultural clashes, and identity, shedding light on the universal truth that love knows no bounds. It's an absolute delight - a striking combination of humor, romance, and real-life drama.