[Movie Review] Polite Society (2023)
Plot Summary: Ria Khan believes that she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting her friends' help, she attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists, in the name of independence and sisterhood.
Director: Nida Manzoor
Writer: Nida Manzoor
Runtime: 1 hour 43 mins
Main Cast:- Priya Kansara as Ria
- Ritu Arya as Lena
- Renu Brindle as Mrs. Nawaz
- Rekha John-Cheriyan as Mrs. Abbas
Review by: Samuel
What I Liked:
This film was a wonderful, fantastical, hilarious, and heartwarming 100-minute adventure that I did not know I needed. The basic premise of the film revolves around Riya- a young aspiring stunt woman who is trying her hardest to save her sister Lena who suddenly became engaged to a handsome doctor named Salim. Riya has told herself that this new fiancé is a threat, and is standing in the way of Lena’s dream of being an artist. I say “told herself,” because everyone else in her life, including Lena, has told her that Salim is a good man and will be a good husband. The story of the sisters Khan is divided into 5 chapters- each increasingly more ridiculous (and hilarious). Riya spends most of these chapters planning a wedding heist with her friends to stop this wedding at all costs. Her ideas are hilarious- laugh-out-loud funny to be honest- with each idea becoming more outrageous as the runtime continues.
While the hijinks themselves are a delight, most of the fun comes from the way the world is presented. People in this world act and react in ways that normal people would not, so you as an audience member are left wondering if you are seeing the world as Riya sees it, or if the world itself is just nonsensical. This can sometimes lead to a movie that is too fantastical for its own good (see “Sorry to Bother You”), but in this case, it’s done so well that I couldn’t help but keep a constant smile on my face.
The performances were also great across the board. It’s rare to find a film where everyone has great comedic timing but this one does. I think almost every character with a speaking role delivers a line that hits and makes you chuckle. Of course, Riya leads the way (especially with her inner monologues), but I genuinely found each cast member to be a delight.
This is also true outside of comedy. At its core, this film is a love story- the love between sisters and when it wants to pull at heartstrings it succeeds in spades. Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya who play Riya and Lena respectively could actually be real-life sisters. They have rare chemistry between them and their entire relationship is the real star of the film.
What I Didn’t Like:
I don’t really have anything to say here.
Summary
This movie was long enough to tell a great story I will be rewatching, and at the same time was short enough to avoid any of the common pitfalls that I would knit pick. It deserves a watch in theaters with fellow moviegoers around you.
