The Big Sick ★★★½

NEW American comedy The Big Sick is as true-to-life as it comes.

Kumail Nanjiani plays himself in the story of his early relationship with partner Emily Gordon.

The talented pair have been married since 2007 and co-wrote this film. Gordon was also an executive producer under the tutelage of producer Judd Apatow whose stable and output has become one of the most influential in terms of American comedy in recent times.

Nanjiani has predominantly been a television comedian to date, his most recent effort being Silicon Valley. He acquits himself pretty well in The Big Sick. Apart from the fact that it’s rare to play yourself in a film, Nanjiani doesn’t sugar-coat or embellish his character in any way.

Gordon, on the other hand, is played in the film by Zoe Kazan, an actress who has been around for a decade now but never seems to make a strong impression. Again, in this film her character is fairly non-descript.

While the script is witty and intelligent, this film lives and dies on the strength of its characters and the actors portraying them. Luckily, the main ones are interesting and well-rounded.

I particularly liked her parents who are played by Ray Romano, who continues to build a solid resume, and the ever dependable Holly Hunter.

Nanjiani and Gordon were poles apart in terms of backgrounds when they met at a stand-up comedy show where he was performing and she was in the audience with a girlfriend.

They hit it off and have a one-night stand which slowly becomes two, three and four and eventually slides into becoming a relationship.

He is keeping something from her. His traditional Pakistani parents are determined that he should gain employment of stature, such as a doctor or engineer, and most importantly marry within his culture, race and religion.

His mother is constantly arranging impromptu visits from eligible women during his visits home for dinner. Inexplicably, he keeps the photos given to him by the women in a box in his bedroom.

Unsurprisingly, Emily finds them and isn’t happy. She doesn’t understand and he doesn’t take time to properly explain. They argue and split up.

Without going too much further into the story, she falls ill and is hospitalised for a period of time during which Nanjiani and her parents are thrust together.

This relationship is the real crux of the film and provides the most entertaining and fresh perspectives. In contrast, his relationship with his parents and the asides with his fellow comedians are much less interesting.

Despite the shortcomings, this is one of Apatow’s more original offerings and probably the best comedy to-date in 2017.