EvilMonkeyToes’s review published on Letterboxd:
I have watched quite a few Bollywood and Tollywood and Lollywood movies--at least a lot for a white guy living in the Southeast United States. My Dad is a huge fan of the genre and, over a span of about 3 years, we watched a different movie together every week. He loved the singing, the dancing, the lack of violence and curse words, and the tame romance.
Polite Society is none of that. It is a modern story of two British Pakistani families, love, scandal, mad scientist stuff, and ass kicking. Writer and director, Nida Manzoor, has created something new and unique from an amalgamation of genres--and it is awesome. I could see elements of films like Kick Ass, Scott Pilgram verses the World, as well as traditional scenes of Lollywood. There was also a very strong girl power message throughout the film (Kill Bill, Mulan, even a bit of Legally Blonde, or Clueless). I might have said it was inspired by Barbie--but it was made at the same time--but it has a bit of Greta Gerwig feel to it also. I am not in any way saying that Nida Manzoor stole from these movies--I believe that she may have been influenced but made something uniquely in her own style.
Priya Kansara was very good in her first major role as the concerned sister, Ria, and the rest of the cast was solid in their performances. Special credit should also be given to the choreographer and the stunt team (there really need to be an Academy Award to recognize stunt work)
Thank you to Special Agent Cooper and Alison for getting this on my Friendwatch Project Watchlist.
