West is West

[clairybible]

Having watched and really enjoyed East is East, i thought that this would be as good. For me it wasn't, sadly. There were parts that made me laugh but i just thought that given the strong character base that they had to work with and the brilliance of the orginal east is east, it would have been better. It was just 'ok', i think.

[Sunny Saver]

And can someone tell me why all Pakistani people apparently go back to Pakistan to marry even if they have never lived there, talk broad Manchester accent and are going back to live in England? And are all marriages agreed on the basis of "I have seen you for 30 seconds and like you because you look like Nana Mouskouri?" Not that I mind, I just don't understand it. It'd be like me going to Germany to look for a Joseph Fiennes-lookalike, then shipping him back over.

6.5/10

and what is wrong with that

My thoughts exactly, I wouldn't mind a Joseph Fiennes lookalike, he doesn't have to be exported from Germany... anywhere will do, as long as he does the ironing.

[soonforgotten]

Caught this at the Empire this morning and I agree that it wasn't as much a comedy as I had expected. A fair amount of the comedy I didn't find amusing at first but it got better further in. I have to agree with the son, George is a dickhead. Him feeling guilty after 30 years does nothing to win me over. Then more or less closing the film with another arranged marriage does not leave me feeling-good, personally. I have an issues with the whole concept of treating marriage as a transaction and I know that's a personal and cultural thing, but isn't it likely that George would have been less likely to have abandoned his wife and family for 30 years had the relationship actually been based on something meaningful? That a film on one hand seems to illustrate such a problem and then celebrate a chief cause of it, I find ridiculous. Are we to believe that Maneer and his wife will both live happily ever after because they're both English-born Pakistanis? It just doesn't sit well with me.

Overall, I'd give it a 7/10 because, my big hold-ups aside, it is a well made film which tells a compelling tale, even if the bigger issues are glossed over.

[Beate]

Are we to believe that Maneer and his wife will both live happily ever after because they're both English-born Pakistanis? It just doesn't sit well with me.

Ah but you forget that she looks like Nana Mouskouri so that surely implies lasting happiness, at least for Maneer. But yes, I know what you mean. It's like they desperately needed something funny and happy in the film, so they chose a match-making plus marriage for it.

[soonforgotten]

Are we to believe that Maneer and his wife will both live happily ever after because they're both English-born Pakistanis? It just doesn't sit well with me.

Ah but you forget that she looks like Nana Mouskouri so that surely implies lasting happiness, at least for Maneer. But yes, I know what you mean. It's like they desperately needed something funny and happy in the film, so they chose a match-making plus marriage for it.

Oh that's what they were talking about. I forgot all about that reference. Okay then, that definitely makes it better.

[cruk]

I thought the movie was excellent, had a great time watching it with lots of laughs. However, if there was no East is East to support, I think it would have been a mediocre movie. You would probably enjoy the film more if you've watched East is East before.

[raj101]

good flick, as good as the first.


and a few extra scenes in the final cut, compared to the test screening last year.

[denisel]

Saw this at Bluewater this morning.

Cinema full. Annoyingly played lots of adverts first and also allowed for late comers

However thoroughly enjoyed film. Hadnt seen the first so had no idea what to expect. Thought the boy was hilarious. Very sad though for the wife and family that 'George' left behind and wanted him to stay but then when the english wife turned up thought the opposite - felt sorry for both but not for him.

Was very good on the whole though...

(6 films seen for free to date so far )

[paolowoop]

that kid was great!! he made me laugh so much!

Couldnt agree more!

a lot of laughs from me and the wife and a few others at Metrocentre today

Like a lot of other watchers i too went with lower expectations as loved East is East but this film was all the more culturally enhanced, loved the insight into the way marriages happen in a lot of muslim cultures - marriage first, relationship second - kept it authentic. The wise man letting the boy 'discover' his heritage, his pal, brilliant characters.

It was also really hard to sympathise with George for abandoning his family in Pakistan. In East Is East, I felt sorry for him as his children rebelled from being stuck under his iron thumb. Here the man literally abandoned his wife and children and this is meant to be excusable? He never even justifies this decision by saying he fell in love – thereby implying that when he moved to England, he had no intention of returning to his Pakistani wife. The emotional theme of reconciliation with estranged family members felt jammed down my throat after a while.

This part had me tearing up at the first wife's loss. i don't think the film portrayed his abondonment as excusable, rather it showed George racked with guilt but going back to try to make amends the only way he knew how. When Ella turned up he knew it was her that he really loved whereas before he was confused by his guilt.

I'd give it a 8/10

Can someone tell me why Jimi Mistri is in the adverts for the film when he is in it about 2 minutes out of 90?
The actor who played Saj was class - telling all and sundry where to go - quality

Another free feel good to back up last weeks no strings attached

2 films in 2011 free - hopefully many more to come
salum alla cum?

[jem&theholograms]

I saw this at the Empire too, was wondering if I should have had a lay in instead as the reviews have been a bit mixed, but am glad I went - though I know what Beate means with people's phones!

I enjoyed this as I wasn't really expecting it to be very funny, but was better than I thought it would be. The ratio of follow ups that are below par is quite high, especially when they take a while (I'm dreading the Trainspotting follow up, if it ever happens). Was very impressed by the kid who played Sajid. Not a perfect film, but quite touching in places and interesting to watch. 7/10 from me.

Relatedly, I heard a nice bit on radio 4 yesterday with Om Puri. Its not very long, but if anyone's interested it starts at 46:03mins.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... 9_02_2011/