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A Simple Wedding
By Tara McNamara,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sweet culture-clash romcom upends stereotypes; drugs, sex.
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A Simple Wedding
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What's the Story?
In A SIMPLE WEDDING, Nousha Husseini (Tara Grammy) is an Orange County attorney who isn't obsessed with marriage. But her Iranian immigrant parents push her daily to marry a fellow Persian -- and fast. Then she meets and starts falling for Alex (Christoper O'Shea), a charming bisexual artist/DJ. Nousha worries whether her parents will accept their relationship -- and whether her and Alex's cultural differences are too great to overcome.
Is It Any Good?
This modern-day love story is wonderfully millennial: It's social-justice oriented, with diverse characters and a progressive approach to dating and sex. It nails millennials' language, sense of humor, and approach to problems. Even when the comedy goes broad, the acting and dialogue are fully authentic -- hopefully, we'll be seeing more of the cast and writer-director Sara Zandieh.
While there's been a recent revolution when it comes to reinventing the romantic comedy, A Simple Wedding actually follows a formula but updates it for modern audiences. It's hard to think of too many (or any) light movies with positive portrayals of Iranian Americans, or with a Muslim woman as the adorkable lead, or, for that matter, any in which a heterosexual girl marries a bisexual guy. Romcoms often have a "gay guy best friend," but how many times does the female lead have two lesbian best friends who are married with a daughter (and no issues)? Alex's gay father and stepfather aren't stereotypical, either. In fact, the greatest thing about all of the characters here is how comfortable they are in their own skin. So millennial!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how cultural and generational differences are typically depicted in the media. How does that compare with real life? How can that kind of difference create problems -- or opportunities for new traditions?
What kind of diversity and representation did you notice in A Simple Wedding? Why is it important for all kinds of people to see someone like themselves on the big screen? Does it matter if they're portrayed in a positive or likable light?
Talk about how the movie portrays drug and alcohol use. Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
How does the story show the importance of communication?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 14, 2020
- On DVD or streaming: February 14, 2020
- Cast: Tara Grammy , Christopher O'Shea , Rita Wilson , Shohreh Aghdashloo
- Director: Sara Zandieh
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors
- Studio: Blue Fox Entertainment
- Genre: Romance
- Character Strengths: Communication
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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