The stars of The Big Sick are comedian Kumail Nanjiani (pictured right) and Zoe Kazan (pictured left). Nanjiani plays himself and Kazan plays his wife, Emily V. Gordon (courtesy of Creative Commons).
The best romantic comedy released in recent memory is the Kumail Nanjiani-led autobiographical film The Big Sick. Co-writers Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon’s sincere dramatization tells the off-beat, comedic story of how the real-life couple met and fell in love.
The Big Sick is the perfect movie for Valentine’s Day, even a couple years after its 2017 release. Unsurprisingly, considering who wrote it, the film is wickedly funny. What is surprising, however, is the nuance with which The Big Sick tackles serious, heavier issues like a life-threatening disease, cultural differences and familial expectations.
The film feels familiar, yet refreshing as it subverts the traditional meet-cute trope that tends to pervade the genre. The on-screen chemistry between Nanjiani as himself and Zoe Kazan as Gordon is easily the movie’s strongest asset. The Big Sick’s approach to the pair’s relationship is exceedingly charming, resulting in a perfect romantic movie that is equal parts funny and thought-provoking.