Happy Monday! Hope you had a really nice weekend.
Today’s recommendation is for The Big Sick (2017), streaming on Prime Video. The untraditional romantic-comedy was directed by Michael Showalter from a script written by Kumail Nanjiani (who also stars) and his wife Emily V. Gordan, based on their real-life romance. The movie earned them a nomination for Best Original Screenplay — my favorite Oscar category.
Directed by Michael Showalter // ⏱ 120 mins // 🎭 Romantic Comedy
Here’s what it’s about:
Kumail (Nanjiani playing a version of himself), a Pakistan-born struggling standup, and grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan) fall for each other after meeting at one of his sets. However, a culture clash, driven by Kumail’s traditional parents (the great Anupam Kher and Zenobia Shroff), drives them apart. So when Emily falls into a coma from a mysterious illness, it’s particularly awkward for Kumail as he faces her parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano). [Trailer]
Why you should watch it:
Love always comes with baggage. However, it’s the way we deal with that baggage that often determines the fate of relationships. But what if you couldn’t confront that baggage head-on and instead had to deal with it through your romantic interest’s parents? That’s how The Big Sick — and its clever script filled with witty one-liners — subverts the expectations of a romantic comedy.
When the movie’s story takes its turn, Showalter masterfully guides the tone towards dramedy that is sentimental, but never overwrought. As Kumail and Emily’s parents circle each other like cowboys preparing for a shootout, there are moments of understanding and education and growth just like a traditional rom-com. It’s filled with so much empathy and character moments that have so much meaning, but always find a way to end on a joke. For that, it’s a true delight.
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
One TV series you should watch🔑 Schitt’s Creek
With its series finale last week, I thought it was the perfect time to recommend Schitt’s Creek — the first five seasons are streaming on Netflix and IMDB TV (with ads). Also, I just wanted an excuse to gush about it.
Created by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy // ⏱ 6 season, 80 episodes // 🎭 Sitcom
Here’s what it’s about:
When the wealthy Rose family — business mogul Johnny (Eugene Levy), former Soap star Moira (Catherine O’Hara), and their “adult” kids David (Daniel Levy) and Alexis (Annie Murphy) — lose their vast fortune, they are forced to live in a small rural town that they bought as a joke called Schitt’s Creek. Little do they know, their stay would change their lives. [Trailer]
Why you should watch it:
Despite its ridiculous title, Schitt’s Creek is perhaps one of the best-written sitcoms of the decade, if not all time. With comedic legends Levy and O’Hara attached, it’s not hard to imagine how funny it is with well-sketched character-driven comedy at the center filled with running gags that always pay off — Daniel Levy and Murphy also do incredible work. Each actor finds so much to work with in their mannerisms, vocal delivery, and even costumes to create eccentric but well-rounded characters. However, what makes the series as a whole thrive is each character’s journey from the start until the emotional end.
Schitt’s Creek is about flawed and broken people learning that they are flawed and broken before finally learning how to heal. For all the over-the-top comedy, it’s the character growth that keeps you coming back. For David and Alexis, that growth comes with learning what they truly want in life. David eventually finds love in Patrick (Noah Reid), who slowly realizes that he’s falling for David even though he’s never been with a man. Alexis also finds love, but more importantly finds a calling and career for herself. There are countless storylines that push the Rose’s and the various citizens of the town towards an end that is satisfying because you know they’ve found themselves changed for the better.
The town Schitt’s Creek lives in a world where political and societal factors don’t exist. It’s often noted that the reason David and Patrick’s relationship is so refreshing is that they don’t have to deal with homophobia and instead can have a love story like any other couple. That, in itself, is progress in representation. It also makes for an easy, worry-free viewing experience — something I’m sure we’re all looking for today. Needless to say, I will be visiting Schitt’s Creek many times in my life.
📺 Buy or Rent: Prime Video | iTunes | YouTube
Thanks for being here. Stay safe.
See you Thursday —
Karl (@karl_delo)