Shades of Ray (2008) User Reviews

Charming family/romantic comedy with a whole lot of heart - pun intended

[kuchynata · 7/10 · 24 October 2008]

I was privileged to see this film at its world premier at the Austin Film Festival. Ray's family dynamics were fun and still familiar, making it easy to connect with him. Writer-director Jaffar created endearing characters. Despite some of the story weaknesses, I found this film irresistible. I was even more enchanted when a whole slew of folks got up on the stage for the Q&A after the screening, AND Jaffar introduced his parents who were in the audience. Zach, Sarah and Fran were extremely funny. Made even more so by the fact that Zach and Sarah were functioning on little sleep after wrapping their TV shooting schedules for the week and coming out to Austin almost immediately after. The support shown for this filmmaker only goes to show the passion behind this project; and, imho, those are the only projects worth spending my time on. Jaffar was articulate and very helpful with his responses to questions for us first time filmmakers.

If Zach Levi doesn't charm you as Ray, then you're either dead or in a coma. Sarah Shahi as Sana, same. Actually, the same can be said for all the leads, Fran Kranz, Bonnie Sommerville, Brian George and Kathy Baker - all did wonderful work. With my apologies to the rest of the cast for this next statement. Brian George stole the show as Ray's father. It was very obvious in the writing that Jaffar knew this character very well, and Brian picked up that ball and ran with it. He was highly entertaining to watch.

Zach is still a young actor, but if he's able to keep at his craft and continues selecting projects with this much heart, I see greatness in his career. He's going to be a tremendously talented actor, and he's already quite good! He made it easy for me to connect with and care about Ray. Sarah Shahi was a surprise. I see her every week on "Life", and really had no idea how talented she was - she acts so effortlessly on that show! Of course her character Sana in "SoR" is quite different from that of Dani Reese on "Life", but her personality during the Q&A is entirely different from both of them. Well done, you, Sarah! I don't know about anyone else, but I'll be watching for future projects with all these folks, including Jaffar of course! I hope you get distribution because I'll pay so I can see this again.

A pleasant romantic-comedy with lots of charm

[anhedonia · 7/10 · 11 July 2009]

It's truly a shame that a charming little romantic-comedy such as "Shades of Ray" does not get a distribution deal, but rubbish rom-coms - "Made of Honor" (2008), "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), "My Best Friend's Girl" (2008) and "My Life In Ruins" (2009) - do.

Writer-director Jaffar Mahmood is playing well within the conventions of the genre. But what makes his film work is that he doesn't rely on stock characters. Even when he has a stock character or two - such as the protagonist's controlling father, Javaid Rehman (Brian George), or the wacky roommate, Sal Garfinkle (Fran Kranz) - Mahmood tweaks their personalities just enough that they seem fresher than they otherwise might be.

I realize there are no Renée Zellwegers, Ashton Kutchers or Cameron Diazes in this film to make it sell to a wider audience. But the lack of such actors is what makes this film all the more appealing.

Films about southeast Asian families and the vagaries of growing up in one are terribly rare and Mahmood should be commended for taking a whack at the subject matter.

Despite tackling issues such as parental control, tradition, familial obligations and love, Mahmood makes his film work because his characters seem new and rather unconventional, even though many of them are just that.

The film is helped immensely by terrific performances all around. I have not seen the TV series, "Chuck," so I was unfamiliar with Zachary Levi as an actor. He makes Ray Rehman an entirely believable person, even managing to bring a sense pathos to a rather funny audition scene.

Kathy Baker and George are terrific as Ray's parents. Baker, especially, gives her role such substance that she takes a minor bit and makes it much more than that. And, finally, it's wonderful to see the lovely Sarah Shahi given a role with some meat and bones on it. I have seen two other films recently in which she was never used to her full potential - "AmericanEast" (2007), in which she has a superfluous role, and "Crossing Over" (2009), in which she was purely window-dressing. In "Shades of Ray," Shahi gets a juicy role that allows her to be alluring, lovable and provocative. She has a sensational scene in a bar where she turns into a playful vixen that is thoroughly enticing.

One character who feels short-changed is Noel Wilson (Bonnie Somerville). In fairness to Mahmood, he resists the temptation to turn her into a bad person, though, given the trappings of the genre, in one scene, he gives her dialogue that seems completely out of character.

"Shades of Ray" does not turn the romantic-comedy genre on its head or anything of that ilk. It's a pleasant diversion and explores a side of American society rarely seen in Hollywood movies. It's most definitely a far cry better and more enjoyable than the romantic comedies Hollywood studios chuck out by the dozen.

A well made romantic comedy

[robcheca · 8/10 · 23 November 2008]

I saw "Shades of Ray" in New York city. The theater was a jam packed for this entry to the South Asian International Film Festival. The plot of the movie deals with the age old issues faced by new immigrants and their next generation so it is in some ways the story of all Americans, only that this one deals with the cultural dichotomy faced by an Asian (Pakistani) father. Such is the screenplay that all the characters are endearing and so real.Zachary Levi, playing the lead role of Ray is really funny. Playing the role of a second generation immigrant (born and bred in America) with all its complexities in comedic situations, he is awesome. Sarah Sahi is ravishing. The rest of the cast played their roles very well. I hope this movie is released for general distribution as it is a very funny romantic comedy, so that those who did not attend the special showing at the festival don't miss a very well made movie.

Shades of Ray AWESOME!

[english-ted · 10/10 · 22 October 2008]

Of all the films I saw at the Austin Film Festival, Shades of Ray impressed me the most. The film is a superb blend of comedy and drama that is both endearing and hilarious. Zachary Levi, known largely for playing the lead in the recent T.V. hit Chuck, stars as Ray Rehman, an aspiring actor who works as a bartender in the evenings to support himself. After Ray's girlfriend remains indecisive towards a recent proposal, Ray's dad shows up at his front door and suddenly Ray has to deal with a rift between his mother and father. To further complicate things, a new girl appears in Ray's life who he feels a deep connection to. The girl shares his ethnicity (1/2 Caucasian, 1/2 Pakistani) and causes him to question his relationship with his current girlfriend. Ultimately, the movie is a great exploration into love and identity. Levi does an excellent job with the character. He is both moving and convincing (interesting since Levi is not of any Pakastani or South Asian decent). Fran Kranz also plays a memorable role as Ray's spastic roommate Sal. It seemed like every time he appeared on screen the audience was laughing. But perhaps most impressive is that Shades of Ray is writer/director Jaffar Mahmood's first full length film to direct. With the incredible pacing and overall flow of the movie it seemed like it had been done by a long-time veteran director. I really look forward to what Mahmood puts out next. I would highly recommend Shades of Ray to anybody.

The protagonist's trajectory resembles that of a pinball.

[suite92 · 6/10 · 9 September 2013]

Ray grew up in New Jersey, but moves away to Los Angeles.

Ray is engaged to Noel, and asks her to marry her. She delays giving him an answer until after she comes back from a vacation with her parents.

Ray's father moves in with him, and soon talks him into having dinner with Sana and her parents. Noel calls him and says yes.

Ray continues seeing Sana. Oi. Ray's mother comes out. Noel comes by when Ray is working at the bar, and the parents are both at Ray's house. Sana stops by the bar and tries to seduce Ray in the men's room.

What could possibly go wrong, and could it be fixed?

Cinematography: 7/10 Usually competent, but often just barely.

Sound: 8/10 Occasionally badly miked.

Acting: 6/10 Good except for Fran Kranz. The other actors counterbalance his badness, but he's still obnoxious.

Screenplay: 7/10 Moves along logically, except for the intervals that contain Fran Kranz.

A Wonderful Film

[javaidmusic · 10/10 · 31 October 2008]

First and foremost, I was fortunate enough to view this film at the South Asian Film Festival in NYC. I came into this movie with the assumption that the story and plot would revolve around a half-Pakistani and half-Caucasian character who had troubles getting by in everyday American life. To my pleasant surprise, Jaffar's movie proved to put that assumption to shame, as he successfully dove deep into the inner workings of American society, family life, and love, for everyone who has ever struggled, and not just South Asians. From the very beginning of the movie, with an opening sequence that had the entire audience practically in hysterics, to a heart piercing and emotionally empathetic scene further into the film, Jaffar takes the term "Romantic Comedy" to an entirely new echelon. The character developments starting at the beginning of the movie and continually throughout, present such a connection between them and the audience. Zachary Levi couldn't have done a more stellar job at being absolutely hilarious and then sensitively heartfelt when need be. Brian George delivered every single line with a touch of laughter and love, and Sarah Shahi was not only beautiful, but made it impossible for the audience not to feel attached. Jaffar hand-picked this wonderful cast of actors to exemplify the amazing characters that he created. Overall, with the terms "independent" and "major" aside, this film was nothing short of genius. Jaffar has truly created a masterpiece, and I feel fortunate to have viewed it. I truly hope that he lands a distribution deals with the majors, so that the entire world can get a chance to experience Shades of Ray.

Shades of Ray - A terrific Movie

[irvkelson · 10/10 · 28 October 2008]

Shades of Ray is an outstanding film. Extremely well written and directed; and the acting by all the performers was top notch. It was very funny and at the same time it gave us the "warm fuzzies" all over.

Although there is a definite ethnic slant, this movie could have been about any first generation immigrants trying to find there way in America. In many ways it also portrays typical family values of Americans across the country.

This film is a breath of fresh air compared to the gratuitously violent and sophomoric films that Hollywood has foisted on us for all too long.

We want to see many more films written and directed by Jaffar Mahmood. He is a great, young talent.

Really bad, or just plain awful.

[jeetinderroth · 1/10 · 26 November 2008]

I saw this film in Austin, and it is really dreadful. The acting, directing, production, lighting, script, photography......need I go on. It's obvious the director doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

I realise this movie has lots of good reviews, but it's pretty obvious these are all from friends and relatives of the director, Jaffar Mahmood.

It's clear he doesn't know how to direct. The script is cheesy. Every camera angle is by the book. Oh please, is this the result of attending the Peter Stark school.

Jaffar, give yourself a break and retire. There are plenty talented directors out there who could do a far superior job.

Oh, and please refrain from using your friends and family in order to market this obvious flop. They deserve better than to be dragged in to you r desperate attempts in achieving fame and fortune.

I just hope Zach Levy manages to live this one down. He's obviously destined for stardom, and it's best he retires this turkey to the scrapheap.

Great Film

[chaudhry_rehan78 · 10/10 · 10 November 2008]

This is an excellent "feel good" movie filled with great humor. The cast includes many up and coming actors such as Zachary Levi from Chuck and Sarah Shahi from Life. Zachary Levi puts forth an excellent comedic and heartfelt performance. All of the leads in the film have a rare connection that is hard to find in most romantic comedies.

The director Jaffar Mahmood was able to intertwine South Asian culture with western culture and made it easy for each viewer to relate to. This film is truly a breath of fresh air during a time period where most South Asian/Middle Eastern films are about war and suffering.

I highly recommend this film for viewers looking for a good romantic comedy!

awesome

[nabnik · 10/10 · 21 October 2008]

I saw the world premiere of this movie at the Austin Film Festival. It was a great movie. The balance of comedy and drama was perfect. It was also cool that the cast and director were at the screening, they were a lot of fun. The star, Zach Levi, did a great job and had a flawless performance. The fact that he's "Chuck" and that he knew that my wolverines shirt was from Red Dawn didn't hurt either. The whole cast had great chemistry and seemed to have a great time making it. Ray's dad, played by Brian George, was one of my favorites. Jaffar, the director, made sure to let us know that this character was pretty much a carbon copy of his father, which made me a little jealous. Fran Kranz was the constant source of comedy, and never disappointed. He told me how surprised he was by how he seemed to lose and gain weight every other scene, which was funny and amazing since it only took 19 days to film. Sarah Shahi was the perfect choice for Ray's surprise love interest. Not sure how anyone couldn't fall in love with her. The movie needs to get picked up and out in theaters soon. Go see it if you get the chance.

fabulous

[djbz51 · 10/10 · 26 October 2008]

Shades of Ray was fabulous, i saw it last night in New York City for the South Asian Int'l Film Festival. Great balance of comedy and drama, i am not a particularly indie film savvy person, but i would buy this movie on DVD in a heartbeat. This movie, especially the casting, had the right amount of earthiness as well as a little flair in the roles of Zachary Levi and Brian George. i cant explain how much i love it, i think that the movie truly achieved its purpose, it showed that sadly some prejudices still exist in a subtle yet ingrained ways, and yet people know about it, and just aren't willing to wholeheartedly give them up.

A Fantastic Romantic Comedy

[margieq65 · 10/10 · 28 October 2008]

I saw "Shades of Ray" in NYC this past weekend at the South Asian International Film Festival. The plot of the movie deals with Ray coming to terms with his biracial background. Although this movie focuses on a half Pakistani half Caucasion man it could be any biracial story; it has a universal appeal. All the characters are endearing and after 90 quick minutes, I didn't want the movie to end! Zachary Levi is fantastic playing the lead role of Ray, his comedic timing is incredible. The supporting cast are all amazing; whoever did the casting was very successful. I hope this movie is picked up for distribution. I think it would be a shame if this fantastic romantic comedy was not made available for everyone to enjoy!!

Incredibly funny

[munira · 10/10 · 27 October 2008]

Jaffar has succeeded in producing a movie,that touches the hearts of almost every immigrant in this great nation's melting pot.I brought my wife(who is American)and my son and daughter.Both told me after,they couldn't believe how they could relate so closely to the characters.Very funny,and sweet.I am so excited for Jaffar,and Zach,who I think is just sprouting.He has great talent.And Brian George,my goodness!What immigrant father cannot relate to THAT character!! Loved it,Loved it. Ray's roommate did seem to have a lovable character.The interesting thing is that people were actually clapping at many parts.It seemed that we were being led into our own experiences.And it could have been a story about any ethnicity. I saw the movie at it's premiere in NYC to a sold out audience,and again,I can't remember laughing so hard in a long time.

Great timely movie

[nlj79 · 10/10 · 10 November 2008]

While the main character is biracial, you don't need to be of mixed race to enjoy this movie. It has a very "Big Fat Greek Wedding" characteristic in that the plot/characters/story speak to most (if not all) audiences, not only those that may be of the same ethnic/racial background(s) as the main character.

Race plays an important role in the movie, but don't think this movie is only about race. It is also about discovering that often times what we think is true is not, for better or for worse. More importantly, however, is what the character does after recognizing the falsity of some of his assumptions/beliefs.

I recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a romantic comedy that doesn't follow the typical and banal plot lines of most Hollywood stuff. The movie is all the more impressive given it is the director's first feature-length film.

Charming, Funny and Sincere

[criticguy · 10/10 · 10 November 2008]

I saw this movie at the Austin film festival and have wanted to post a comment for some time. Shades of Ray follows a half-Pakistani, half-white mid-20s struggling actor as he finds himself and grapples with his ethnic identity. The movie is funny and feels extremely relevant now that America is preparing for its first multi-ethnic president, himself an author of a best-selling book about ethnic identity struggles. The beauty of this film, however, is that the comedy will appeal to everyone and Ray's search for who he is transcends ethnicity.

Zach Levi (best known for NBC's "Chuck") is awesome as Ray. His comedic timing and chemistry with Sarah Shahi (CBS' "Life") make the movie. Also excelling were Brian George as Ray's father and Fran Kranz (upcoming in FOX's "Dollhouse") as Ray's best friend.

Perhaps most impressive, Jaffar Mahmood, the director, was at the filming and said this film was made for only $600,000. Despite that budget, it never feels like style was compromised for cost. Shades of Ray stands up to big-budget romantic comedies and blows them away. If you are a fan of the genre, find a way to see this movie!

Best movie in a long time!

[asimon7673 · 10/10 · 28 October 2008]

Best movie I've seen in a long time. I took my family to see it this past Saturday and we all loved it. Heart warming and enjoyable. It was different in a refreshing way- not what you typically run across at the theater. In particular, it addresses the dilemma may of us face in an increasingly mixed, multi-ethnic society. The movie includes a great balance of both humor and serious issues and leaves one coming away with more than just a simple,shallow entertaining film experience. The acting, cinematography and writing were all top of the line. The theater was filled to capacity, I only heard positive remarks from others in attendance. It's a must see for people of all ages.

The best sort of romantic comedy--both believable and seriously laugh-inducing.

[sarahschroeder83 · 9/10 · 25 October 2008]

This film was pee-your-pants-laughing funny while telling a very real story about relationships and identity. I just returned from viewing it at the South Asian International Film Festival here in New York City, and I want to get the word out because I was so impressed! The folks who put 'Shades of Ray' together may have simply set out to tell the story of a particular biracial and bicultural young man trying to reconcile his identity and his relationships, but they succeeded in creating a film that will resonate with anyone with a healthy sense of humor and curiosity about what it might mean to have roots in more than one "place." The acting was wonderful, with the shining star being Brian George as Javaid Rehman. Zachary Levi has a mastery of comedy and drama that shows in his role as Ray Rehman. The plot was a little predictable, but even so I wasn't quite sure how it would finish out. I hope this film gets the spotlight and recognition it deserves--I'd certainly like to get the chance to see it again!

Excellent, balancing a sensitive social issue with humor and viewer interest.

[zeejay7 · 10/10 · 3 November 2008]

It is easy to take any one of several cultural and other issues being faced by the immigrant community, and make out of it a sensitive, lofty and possibly heart-wrenching movie. It is extremely difficult to take such an issue and present it in such a delightfully palatable package. This movie, unlike many first-time entrants, would actually hold its own in a general audience. There are several social issues faced by the professional, well-educated, well-to-do immigrant, which transcend those of the existential type encountered by many of the less-fortunate immigrants in the sense that the latter is really not concerned about conformance or non-conformance, and/or "fitting in" because he is more concerned with economical survival. The other variety, already at ease with the Western culture, finds, in further embracing it, that a price is to be extracted when the next generation, brought up in the new culture, manifests that particular aspect of the American culture that truly epitomizes it: the right to question his or her parents. Let there be no doubt about it, the uniquely distinguishing aspect of the Indo-Pak cultural baggage that is carried in by the first generation immigrant is the primacy of the "Elder", regardless of merit. It is a challenge indeed.

Wow! Exporing new territory.

[walterguitar · 10/10 · 20 November 2008]

I just got back from the Tufts premiere and I have to say I'm speechless. The storyline is beautiful crafted and the mix of romance and comedy is nothing short of perfect. It might seem like another romantic comedy on the surface but Shades of Ray truly is exploring new territory here in subtle nuances of what it means to be bi-racial in a relationship and the struggle to find a comfort zone between your two halfs. But what struck me the most is the director's masterful ability to easily switch between these complicated emotions and keep you laughing all the while. Zachary Levi's comedic timing is reminiscent of early John Cusack and the gorgeous and extremely talented Sarah Shahi ability to tell the whole story with just a glance is simply amazing. A must watch.

This movie is absolutely wonderful, from the cast and crew to the audience that screened it. Just absolutely wonderful.

[snarimba · 10/10 · 14 November 2008]

I saw this film at the Lone Star Film Festival in Texas-- it was absolutely wonderful. The cast was great and the chemistry between Sarah and Zach was just heart-throbbing. Sarah is in NBC Life and she stole the show-- her acting is just dynamic. From seeing her act in Life as a Los Angeles police officer, to a half Pakistani/half American woman is just amazing. You see two completely different sides of acting with Sarah Shahi and it's just amazing. Zach is in Chuck, and his character just makes you think and appreciate the hardships everyone goes though. I waited in line for an hour and a half to get seated and the theater was jam-pack sold out. This was just an absolutely wonderful romantic comedy. After the screening, there was a question/answer session with the writer/director Jaffar Mahmood, and he just truly told the audience how it was. He made you feel the heart and soul in his production. Half way through the question/answer session, actress Sarah Shahi called and they put her on speaker phone and a microphone so everyone could hear her-- she thanked the audience for attending, and spoke about how great the cast and crew were and how much energy, devotion and love was put into creating this film, I don't know who could hold a higher respect than Sarah and the rest of the cast; even Sarah's family came into town to screen the film. I cannot wait to watch it again in the movie theaters!! Great job, guys! This is definitely a wonderful and beautiful movie, both in realms of color in the cinematography, the editing, the music, the humor and love. Great movie, above all. Watch out Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks... you've got competition with "Shades of Ray." There was a lot of hype with this film, and that hype will continue to grow. Shades of Ray is just truly heartfelt and original.

Shades of Ray

[mpetersenh · 10/10 · 26 January 2009]

I recently had the pleasure of watching Jaffar Mahmood's movie "Shades of Ray". I was totally impressed with Jaffar's characters and the the way they all interacted with each other. I thought the dialogue was well done. You became wrapped up in Ray's life and wanted to see him through this time in his life.I really enjoyed the great comedic timing of the movie and found myself laughing more than I had in a long time.Brian George was wonderful as Ray's father.His portrayal of a Pakastani father trying to get his son to follow tradition was very touching. Ray's roommate,Fran Krantz was great.I really enjoyed his character.However I have to admit that the best part of the movie for me was Zach Levi! What a bonus for Jaffar to get him to act in this great movie. I am a big fan of Zach and I think he did a great job as Ray. I almost fell off of my chair during one of his audition scenes in the movie.I am hoping that with Zach's success in Chuck that someone will jump at the chance to distribute Jaffar's movie. I have one comment to make about the one and only bad review that the movie received- did that person see the same movie that I did? I did not want the movie to end and look forward to when I can see it again!I would recommend this movie to everyone. I look forward to future movies from Jaffar.

touches the heart

[pmmd44 · 10/10 · 18 January 2009]

saw the movie in Austin.beautiful story.cast choice was perfect.Brian George blows you away.chemistry between Sara Shahi & Zach Levi is outstanding.when Sara Shahi smiles the screen lights up.reminds me of Sophia Loren.Fran Kranz,s comedic timing is impeccable.Kathy Baker plays a solid role as usual(the old reliable)editing is superb.the movie really moves.audience reaction was tremendous.people were laughing so you you could not hear all the dialogues.need to see it again to catch all the dialogues.hope it is released soon.one sees so many movies out there that are not even half as much fun.hopefully a distribution company will pick it up soon.even a limited theatrical release in l.a. & n.y. followed by cable ,t.v. & d.v.d. release will be great so a wide audience could see it.

Delightful Comedy/Drama

[jij1042 · 10/10 · 11 November 2008]

Brilliant exploration of identity conflicts of new generation Americans of mixed ethnicity; Perfectly portrayed by Zachary Levi as son of a Pakistani immigrant father and Caucasian catholic American mother; Timely, since our president-elect Barack Obama (product of mixed ethnicity) went through identity crisis in his early life; Insightful in portraying struggles of first generation immigrants - in this case, a Pakistani father (masterfully played by Brian George) who after 35 years of blissful living in America is still struggling with his early values.

Jaffar Mahmood as writer/director has done an excellent job in casting where all the characters are able to convey the multitude of human emotions - Love, joy, desires, hopes, conflicts- in such an effortless manner as if they are really living through it all. Congratulations Jaffar for being able to achieve this caliber of movie as your first venture on shoestring budget. I hope some insightful distributor will have the "audacity" of showing this movie to American audience at large.

Awesome

[dplaag · 10/10 · 1 November 2008]

I had the pleasure of seeing this movie in New York City last weekend. It was fantastic! Great mix of comedy and drama. It also shows the reality that people of different ethnicities face challenges throughout life. I would recommend this film to everyone. The theater was packed and the crowd appeared to very entertained as laughter reigned throughout. It was very entertaining was wishing for more, we didn't want to see the film end. The casting and storyline were excellent. I would hope to see more films by Jaffar Mahmood in the future as this film really shows his writing and directing talents. I would buy this film to add to my collection as I could watch it numerous times!

Shades of Ray-- must see!

[zmalick91 · 10/10 · 17 November 2008]

I saw this movie at the South Asian Film Festival in New York and I can honestly say that describing it as excellent is an understatement. Although, the main character in the movie, Ray, is portrayed as a biracial individual, I feel that all people alike can relate to the story put forth. The director, Jaffar Mahmood, was really able to connect with his audience; moreover, the acting in the movie was far superior than the acting I have seen in any other movie recently. I recommend Shades of Ray to anyone who enjoys a well produced romantic comedy. The only warning I have for potential viewers is that by the time the credits roll up at the end of the movie, their stomachs will be in knots from laughing so much.