"As a real life story you cannot help but root for this couple and ultimately for love to conquer"

Interracial marriages should not be a controversial notion to an audience in 2017; a topic which is touchingly and comically explored in Michael Showalter's new film 'The Big Sick'. Rooted in a real life story of how a Pakistani - American aspiring stand up comedian (Kumail) meets the girl of his dreams, Emily (Zoe Kazan) after a one night stand, this movie contains a highly original screenplay written by the real life couple, Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. If writing a film about the start of ones relationship and the hurdles jumped to stay together isn't true love, I don't know what is.

The story unfolds as we meet Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani) hustling to make it as a stand up comedian and living the life of a seemingly average young man in Chicago, the twist comes in form of his traditional Pakistani family who, in keeping with custom, demand that he marry a Muslim lady through an arranged marriage. Bringing attention to this cultural clash is no easy feat, but the writing is so witty, that this issue is dealt with the perfect balance of seriousness and some great laughs.

If you wonder for the title of the film, the middle portion throws up an unexpected and life threatening health scare for Emily, which forces Kumail to meet her weary parents (Ray Romano and Holly Hunter) this tense situation jump starts the process of exploring their relationship more deeply as Kumail does all he can to deal with his family life and his newfound role of supporter to Emily.

As a real life story you cannot help but root for this couple and ultimately for love to conquer. The cast, mostly comedic actors, or at least actors known for their comedy (amongst them Aidy Byrant and Adeel Akhtar) do a phenomenal job of rooting this film in the witty yet naturalistic realm. Major kudos to Kumail and Emily for writing this screenplay and telling their story to the masses, the underlying theme of sticking to what you believe in is delivered to perfection when the film ends and we get a sense that this couple and their family life will survive to tell the tale. A great film to watch with some mates when you want some laughs with some real life drama thrown in.