Ages ago my wife and I saw a trailer for this and thought it looked fun. Canadian films and Television can be hit and miss but that stigma is lifting and films like this are the reason why. This isn't just a silly comedy although it has genuinely funny and crass moments. There is a ton of heart here and a great romance, a little drama, and a story that really reflects a lot of culture and passion. There are moments that almost moved me to tears and the latter part of the film turns into a fascinating and fun court battle for Deepak's life in Canada. The film is not unlike watching the classic Miracle on 34th Street and I mean that in the best of ways. This is a very well written movie and the perfect blend of comedy and drama and that isn't easy to meld together well. The setting of Toronto (my favourite setting in the whole world) is used very well and you will see many amazing sights from the city. The characters are a ton of fun but other than our main two characters, most of them are very surface. Still they all make a terrific cast, lots of laughs and just some really moving moments.
Vinay Virmani is perfect in the lead role. He can be funny but he just seems very down to earth and you can relate to him and cheer for him. I'd love to see him in more films but this is great because it fits his culture well and he represents a balance between Indian film and Canadian. At first glance Adrianne Palicki would seem like a bizarre choice for romantic lead opposite Virmani but she is fantastic. In fact this is one of the best roles I've ever seen her in. There are many scenes where I think she looks too "made-up" (giving birth, in the hospital after) but her chemistry with Virmani is near perfect and their romance is fantastic in the movie and paced very well. The supporting cast don't get a lot of depth but they also add a lot to the film especially in the comedy aspect. Kunal Nayyar (the horny best friend role), Lillete Dubey, Mircea Monroe, Chris Diamantopoulos, Rizwan Manji and Stephen McHattie (small role but very good!) are all worth mentioning in this terrific cast.
I think it would have been interesting to see an Indian director do this film but Jean-Francois Pouliot does a really great job. He doesn't have a ton of credits to his name and yet he really shows some talent behind the camera and captures the culture so well. The film is reminiscent of a great Bollywood movie without overwhelming the mainstream audiences with it. I loved the brief and bright dance sequences that actually fit the tone of the film and the daydream dance sequence was hilarious. The film is clean enough but still is PG enough to satisfy adults. It is definitely worth checking out, a great date movie and one I would absolutely watch again. It was a sincere pleasure to check out this Canadian gem. 8/10
Vinay Virmani is perfect in the lead role. He can be funny but he just seems very down to earth and you can relate to him and cheer for him. I'd love to see him in more films but this is great because it fits his culture well and he represents a balance between Indian film and Canadian. At first glance Adrianne Palicki would seem like a bizarre choice for romantic lead opposite Virmani but she is fantastic. In fact this is one of the best roles I've ever seen her in. There are many scenes where I think she looks too "made-up" (giving birth, in the hospital after) but her chemistry with Virmani is near perfect and their romance is fantastic in the movie and paced very well. The supporting cast don't get a lot of depth but they also add a lot to the film especially in the comedy aspect. Kunal Nayyar (the horny best friend role), Lillete Dubey, Mircea Monroe, Chris Diamantopoulos, Rizwan Manji and Stephen McHattie (small role but very good!) are all worth mentioning in this terrific cast.
I think it would have been interesting to see an Indian director do this film but Jean-Francois Pouliot does a really great job. He doesn't have a ton of credits to his name and yet he really shows some talent behind the camera and captures the culture so well. The film is reminiscent of a great Bollywood movie without overwhelming the mainstream audiences with it. I loved the brief and bright dance sequences that actually fit the tone of the film and the daydream dance sequence was hilarious. The film is clean enough but still is PG enough to satisfy adults. It is definitely worth checking out, a great date movie and one I would absolutely watch again. It was a sincere pleasure to check out this Canadian gem. 8/10