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Romantic comedies can be a dime a dozen. That's not to say that they are inherently bad, just that they can potentially be overplayed and repetitive. Especially the commonly used super-shy-person-falls-for-outgoing-star kind of story. Still, as I mentioned in my Death of a Unicorn review, originality does not come from what story you choose to tell, but in how you choose to tell it. Plenty of nuances and interpretations have yet to be experienced in some of the most common genres.
Today's subject, A Nice Indian Boy, is precisely that kind of movie: a standard romantic comedy storyline told with cultural elements not often explored within the genre. While the movie itself can feel a bit too long and a little repetitive for its own good at times, it succeeds in keeping you interested with just enough nuance and goodwill. Not to mention sharp writing and committed performances.
Based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, the story follows a timid and mostly introverted doctor of Indian descent named Naveen (Karan Soni), who is constantly on edge with his family over his sexual orientation. Although his family isn't outright outraged by their son, Naveen can't help but feel as though there is some unresolved tension lingering underneath the surface. Things take an unexpected turn when Naveen falls head over heels for a freelance photographer named Jay (Jonathan Groff), who happens to be the adopted son of an Indian family. Having fallen for someone with much common ground, Naveen wants to take the plunge and introduce Jay to his family, but is too afraid to actually do so. A series of family drama moments follows that, while familiar but not-so-fresh, ultimately builds up to an excellent message about family, acceptance, and love.
Despite the film having all the expected hallmarks of your typical romantic comedy, the cultural explorations and committed performances make it worth your time. While I might have preferred that the runtime had been a hair shorter and that there was a tad more visible growth from the protagonist in the middle of the story, the film never made me feel like my time was being wasted. Anyone who has had to deal with the emotional landmine that is introducing your significant other to your family will immediately understand and appreciate this story.
Worth a look.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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