A Nice Indian Boy Movie Review (2024)
An unbelievably sweet and funny rom-com, A Nice Indian Boy had me in happy and emotional tears half a dozen times. Such a great film!
I love a movie that can display love in its own unique way. It doesn’t have to be a big production with over-the-top effects, it just has to do it right. It has to mean something and come across to the characters and the audience as real and true.
A Nice Indian Boy is a story about Naveen, a gay Indian doctor who is looking for love, but has always had to keep his sexuality quieter around his parents. They know that he’s gay, but they don’t talk about it. When he encounters Jay, a white photographer, while each praying at the Hindu temple, they begin a relationship that is a little complicated.
I have to gush about this movie for a minute. I absolutely loved it. The first half is sweet and formulaic with some cringeworthy funny moments and a cute love story, all of which is super enjoyable. The second half is where the meat is. I am not exaggerating when I say that I cried at least 6 times because I was so happy, so touched, and full of so much love for what I was seeing on screen with various characters.
Jay was raised in foster care, eventually being adopted by his older Indian parents. They have both passed away and his friends have become his family, but his Indian upbringing is a deep part of who he is.
Naveen is the only son in an Indian family with two parents who had an arranged marriage and a sister who just experienced something similar. But his sister is celebrated for being a perfect cutout (straight, pretty, could get pregnant soon, etc.) and since the family never talks about anything deep, no one really talks about anything meaningful at all. That being the case, Naveen keeps his relationship with Jay a secret until they are very serious.
There are so many things that I love about this film, but there are a few specifics that I want to touch on. First, Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff are fantastic and watching them fall in love in an imperfect way is wonderful. Naveen’s family members are also standouts that you fall in love with as well.
Second, Hindu wedding culture is on full display here. We don’t see a lot of mainstream movies that show the important and sentimental steps in a Hindu wedding and I loved seeing every second of it. I also appreciate that they don’t attempt to explain anything to the viewer. If you know, you know, and if you don’t, just enjoy it.
Third, Bollywood should have a place in more mainstream cinema. People should talk about it or reference it more. I’m just saying.
This is such a charming film, I can’t recommend it enough. My eyes are raw from wiping the tears, so I’m going to have to wait a few days before watching it again, but you can be sure that I will!
Runtime: 96 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: Not rated (but I would say somewhere around PG-13)
Languages Spoken In The Film: English and Hindi with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes, definitely
Did I Cry? Yes, so many times
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
