It is strange to think that heckling a comedian could be the gateway to finding your soulmate.

Yet that is almost the most ordinary plot point in “The Big Sick” compared to the unbelievable events that occur in this true story. 

“The Big Sick,” directed by Michael Showalter in 2017, follows the real-life romance of scriptwriters Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani.

Before their marriage in 2007, Gordon and Nanjiani were faced with significant hardships in their relationship including cultural differences that tore them apart and a serious illness, hospitalizing Gordon. 

The independent film, originally released at Sundance, is loosely based on their story with Nanjiani playing himself in the film.

The film begins at the couples meeting during Kumail’s stand-up comedy performance and follows the beginnings of their relationship filled with humor and romance.

However, Emily, played by Zoe Kazan in the film, and Kumail end their relationship when Emily finds out about his family’s wishes for him to be in an arranged marriage.  

Yet after their breakup, Kumail is informed that Emily was hospitalized with an unknown illness and is put under a medically induced coma. As he visits the hospital almost daily, he meets Emily’s parents, played by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano, and an interesting bond grows between the three as they wait to see Emily’s fate. 

The Best Original Screenplay nominated script is this film’s best asset, as it was written by the couple whose lives it’s based upon but also because of its balance of comedy and sentimentality.

The trauma from Emily’s coma is leveled with a layer of dark humor that lightens the intense subject matter enough for viewers to have hope for their relationship. 

Though this film follows a somewhat typical rom-com formula — guy gets girl and guy loses girl. Its message and story make for a unique viewing that tugs at the heartstrings.

Not only is it just a story about a guy and a girl, it is also a story about family, acceptance and following your own path. This is the type of film that defies genres, bouncing from a romance to a comedy to a drama. 

This film is one that unexpectedly explores the connection of different generations and the connections built between parents and their children.

Some of the most tender moments in the film actually come from scenes with Kumail and Emily’s parents. It makes for a unique story to have a main character’s parents being more present during the runtime of the film than the character themselves. 

The intersection of Kumail and Emily’s differing cultures is an element not often seen in other romantic films. Kumail, a Pakistani American, must learn to balance his relationship, his immigrant parents’ expectations for him and his own wants for himself.

It is almost Nanjiani’s own personal statement about being raised in a Pakistani household and how that affects his life as an adult. 

Nanjiani, Gordon and Showalter collaborate successfully in bringing this story to life as unbelievable as the circumstances portrayed are. Their creation reminds viewers to not take anything for granted as it is unpredictable where life will take you next. 

As Valentine’s Day fast approaches, this film is perfect for those looking for a love story that is about more than just a relationship but instead about identity and trust.

[email protected]