THE BIG SICK
US, 2017, 120 minutes, Colour.
Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe , Holly Kazan, Hunter, Ray Romano.
Directed by Michael Showalter.
There has been a film, something of a classic, called The Big Chill. So, there is no reason that there shouldn’t be a film called The Big Sick – although that is not an immediately attractive title. But, there is no false advertising here, at the core of the film is a significantly big sick.
This is one of those films where a reviewer offers an initially cautionary note. There will be some audiences who are immediately attracted by the central character, Kumail, played by, who co-wrote the script. He is an immigrant, along with his parents and his brother and his brother’s wife who have come from Pakistan and settled in Chicago. While they have settled in Chicago, they certainly keep many of their Pakistani customs, closeness of family, meals together, food and tastes from the old country, and, to Kumail’s continual discomfort, arranged marriages (where mother announces during meals that some young woman has just “dropped in� – an audition for a potential arrangement).
Some audiences may find that intriguing from the word go and the discovery that Kumail tries to be a stand-up comedian in a comedy club.
But, the reviewer then needs to say that this is a film which will probably grow on the audience, as it allows us to know the characters better, not always admiring Kumail, but getting to know Emily (Zoe Kazan) whom we see first calling out to Kumail during his act, which he interprets as heckling and challenges her on it. But, before you can say Pakistan, they have gone to his apartment, a sexual encounter, relationship.
There are two more developments however. An insensitive breakup on the part of Kumail and a sudden phone call to let him know that Emily is in hospital. In fact, for most of the film, Emily is in hospital, in an induced coma, doctors puzzling over diagnoses, and Kumail having to stand in as an authority for Emily’s surgery though they have broken up.
The other central characters in the film are Emily’s parents, Beth and Terry, from South Carolina. They are played by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, Holly Hunter always able to do the acerbic with some forcefulness and Ray Romano, possibly doing a variation on Everybody Loves Raymond, but very effectively, a good man, loving his wife and daughter, put upon, and trying to deal with Beth’s domination as well as decisions about his daughter’s surgery and prognosis.
Part of the drama is that Beth does not like Kumail at all – at all. She is brusque, wishing him away. She knows about the breakup and is very angry about it. Terry is much more sympathetic and appreciates what Kumail is trying to do. They eventually have some heart-to-heart conversations.
So, while Emily is in hospital in the coma, and Kumail is trying to fend off the continual visits of eligible girls who “drop in�, there is the story of Kumail and his attempts at stand-up comedy, various sets that he performs, and the group of friends that are continually trying out in the club. Audiences will enjoy the sequence where Kumail reluctantly invites Beth and Terry to the club and a very WASP member of the audience heckles – and receives the full brunt of Beth’s anger and disapproval.
Of course, the drama is the question of Emily’s illness, her possible recovery and, if she recovers, what will she think about Kumail because her last memories will be of breaking up with him and her being hurt.
It is not meant to be a spoiler because we read the credits at the beginning of the film but, in fact, the screenplay was written by Kumail and Emily. During the final credits, there are photos of the real characters, including the Pakistani family.
As has been indicated, this is a film which you need to give time to and it will very likely grow on you.
1. The title? Literal sickness?
2. The Chicago settings, the Pakistani family home, the American family, comedy clubs, apartments, the hospital? The musical score, songs?
3. The couple and the true life story, writing the film, Kumail performing? The final photos at the end of the couple and their families?
4. The focus on Kumail, his voice-over, his boyhood back in Pakistan, his family, the awkward boy, glasses, criticised? Going to the United States? The whole family migrating? Father, mother, brother and wife? His life in America? His apartment, his roommate? His driving? The Comedy Club, his friends and their performance, the boss?
5. The range of comedy the club, the sets, Kumail, the girl, his friend, Chris and his not making people laugh? The scouts, the competitions for intercity and international challenges?
6. Emily at the club, her intervention during his act, Kumail’s reaction? Interchange with her, rudeness? The bar, talking, their going home together, the sexual encounter? The talk, the nature of the relationship, the problem with arranged marriages with Pakistani families? The clashes with Emily, the break, her being hurt? His dating of women?
7. The family, the arrangements, girls dropping in, during meals, even families, the girls being tested, Kumail and his reactions? His not wanting an arranged marriage?
8. The phone call, Emily sick, his going to the hospital, the doctor pressurising him to sign the document as her husband for procedures to go on? His presence throughout her illness? The phone, her thumb print to open the phone, his ringing the parents?
9. Beth and Terry, their reactions, Beth and her harshness, her mothering of her daughter, putting Terry down? Her reaction to Kumail? His presence, her wanting him to go, eating his meal separately, Terry inviting him over, the gradual mellowing?
10. The situation at the hospital, the range of doctors, the consultations, the diagnoses? The need for surgery? The puzzle about the illness, keeping Emily in the coma? Beth wanting to transfer her to a better status hospital, Kumail’s reaction?
11. At the club, his not wanting Beth and Terry to go, their going, the heckler and his rudeness, Beth and the vitriol of her attack, her changing attitude towards Kumail?
12. The solution to the problem, the diagnosis? Emily waking up, resentful of Kumail, harsh towards him, his photo of all the passes and his presence during her illness? Her not wanting to see him again?
13. The gradual recovery, with her parents, greater stability, rehabilitation?
14. The parents talking, Terry staying with Kumail, confessing his infidelity and whether this was the right thing to do? Beth welcoming Terry to the bed?
15. Kumail, at the club, late, his anger at the takeaway food, wanting the cheeseburger with four slices of cheese (Beth’s earlier complaint), challenging the man serving and its being his first day? Late, the bad set, talking personally – not funny?
16. The friends deciding to go to New York, the discussions, his agreeing to go?
17. Going to his parents, the girl coming with her parents, his telling the truth, the girl and the argument?
18. Getting ready to go to New York, his friends, the car, Chris staying behind, the family exiling him but his father wishing him well, the packed food from his mother but her not looking at him?
19. Kumail, at the Comedy Club in New York, the set, Emily intervening?
20. Wife of the couple together, the pictures of their true selves in families?
21. A love story, a race story, the bigotry story, mellowing, mistakes and change?
