In the beginning there was darkness upon the stage, then the Irish brought in a boatload of comedians, and comedy flourished. Then the Jews arrived, and comedy went through the roof.

Now, it seems, the Middle East has gotten into the game with a fresh new face.

Kumail Nanjiani, a Pakistani-American comic, who just debuted in what may well be the hottest ticket of the summer, with his “The Big Sick” is the new guy in town.

Nanjiani is a stand up comic and co-star of the hit HBO “Silicon Valley.”

He and his real life wife Emily wrote “The Big Sick” together, based on their own story, and quite a story it is.

Nanjiani plays a Chicago stand up comic who, like thousands of others, just wants to get enough laughs to make it to the Montreal Comic Con, for a chance to break out into the big time.

Advertisement

One night, he’s cutely heckled by Emily, a sweet little blonde charmer in the house (Zoe Kazan) who just came to laugh, and found herself attracted to the guy on the stage.

As things develop between them, Kumail is falling faster than Emily, but he has to keep it in a minor key.

Kumail’s Mama and Papa (Zenobia Shroff and Anupam Kher) who are movie lovable and very devout, arrange to have Pakistani lovelies drop by each night at dinner. We’ve seen this before, and know that the Nanjianis insist on Kumail’s wedding a Pakistani bride.

“Oh my, who is that at the door?” Mama whispers. In comes a new potential bride; some arrivals are clearly acceptable, others not.

But our Kumail has other plans.

Just as love approaches full bloom, Kumail gets a call; Emily is in the hospital with an infection in her lung.

Advertisement

That night she is put into a medically induced coma. While she lays in bed all tubed up, Emily drops out of the movie, and everyone and everything else orbits around her dilemma.

Emily’s parents arrive from Minnesota. Holly Hunter as Mama Beth comes in mid picture like a first responding Marine, and threatens to steal the movie.

Dad is Terry, a lower key, more reasonable Ray Romano giving a four-star performance.

From here on out, Kumail and Mom and Dad, three disparate souls who ordinarily would only meet in an airline check in line, spend intimate, endless hours bouncing from waiting rooms to Emily’s apartment, as new reports flicker in.

The cast, with a sprinkling of new stand up faces thrown in, are all top of the line funny people. But millennials will send orchids to new comer Kumail Nanjiani. He’s a fresh blend of sweet and light, sharp and tender, and a for sure Golden Globe and possibly Oscar nominee for a scene in which he breaks down and blows his big chance at the Montreal Comic Con.

Director Michael Showalter occasionally lets the love story slip into sitcom territory, but an explosive entry by Holly Hunter saves the movie, which is cute and fun, and a love letter to Kumail’s fans, yet certainly no “When Harry Met Sally,” or “You’ve Got Mail.”

Kumail is cute, Zoe, cuter and rings the bell.

J.P. Devine, of Waterville, is a former stage and film actor.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.