The Big Sick (2017), directed by Michael Showalter

Billing this film as a comedy sets it up for false expectations. While it is often wryly amusing, the storyline is more sad than funny despite being set in the world of stand-up comedy. It follows the story of how comedian Kumail Nanjiani got together with his wife Emily V Gordon and, as the couple wrote the screenplay, it does ring true, with warmth and humour informing the narrative. Playing himself, Nanjiani does a great job of depicting the difficulty of defying family expectations around career and relationships, especially when that family is Pakistani and Muslim. Zoe Kazan is perfect as Emily, her brand of quirky appeal making her seem just right, despite being in a coma for a good portion of the movie. Among a universally solid supporting cast Holly Hunter and Ray Romano add tragi-comic depth as Emily’s stricken parents, while Bo Burnham and Aidy Bryant help bring to life the world of struggling stand-up comics. So many issues are touched on lightly beneath the overarching story of love, illness and commitment, making this a fully fleshed film with some laughs along the way that is far more than just a comedy.