Review of The Big Sick (2017) by Omar L — 26 Dec 2017

This is the love story of the year, because it's a love story of the 21st Century. Interracial love in modern times has a different spin to it; not everything is "Get Out." Sometimes the prejudice comes not from within the United States, but from those who emigrated from other lands and brought not only the good, but the bad with them. No, I'm not talking about crime or terrorism, but the culture of exclusion that the United States herself has struggled so publically and shamefully to shed.

Kumail's story is not an unusual one in today's world, but it is unusual in Hollywood. Master of None also takes a look at similar themes, but The Big Sick is more about how connection and culture can get in the way of each other, usually for the worse. The perfect casting of Ray Romano and Holly Hunter as the parents of Emily (Zoe Kazan) show how impressive comedic timing can add poignancy in dramatic roles. The weak link in this movie is ironically Nanjiani himself, but his lack of dramatic acting chops gets a pass for some wonderfully funny and heartfelt lines, and most of all, a love story not for the ages, but for this age.