What's Love Got to Do with It?

If you remember "Last Christmas" (2019) then you will have a rough idea of what to expect here with this rather formulaic, if colourful, drama. It all centres around a film being made by "Zoe" (Lily James) about the forthcoming "assisted" marriage of her lifelong friend "Kaz" (Shazad Latif). Her mother "Cath" (Dame Emma Thompson) lives next door to his family and so is relishing the family trip to Pakistan for the traditional wedding. "Zoe" is (as, I suspect, are we) pretty sceptical of the whole arrangement - getting married to someone you've only met on Skype, but proceed we do through a lively ceremony that allows Dame Emma to don her sari and dance for all she is worth (gin-fuelled!) whilst the predictable love triangle melodrama slowly, but predictably, plays out. It all comes to an head when they have returned home and she shows her film to all concerned and, just like this, it receives mixed and divisive reviews. I found this all very twee, middle class and vaguely judgmental which after a while I felt rather defeated the purpose in the first place. It is pretty clear from the start what is going to happen, and although the route to that conclusion isn't exactly a straight line, this leaves very little room for jeopardy to a plot you can see from Mars. Latif has a degree of charm to him, and some of the scenes with Lily James are quite engaging in a cheesy sort of way, but for the most part this is eminently forgettable fayre that will do fine on telly at Christmas.

Totally lacking plot and character development the movie falls flat. Missing are all the usual twists, turns and laughs. There is no build or development of the main characters leaving them as empty and hollow as when they started.

This film makes the first half hour of Moonfall look like a cinematic masterpiece.

Whilst not bad and an easy watch this movie really fails to deliver. Carrying a camera awkwardly from scene to scene does not make our leading lady a documentary superstar.

We are not even given any insight into the two main characters life as children together, or any insight into them liking each other more than friends.

It's like two strangers kissing at the end taking a chance on what love?? Do they even like each other. There was no tension, no chemistry between them.

And what does Emma Thompson contribute? Jumping around each scene in a shrill voice adding nothing to the value of the movie.

"What's Love Got to Do with It?" is a Comedy - Romance movie in which we watch an arranged marriage between two individuals from different cultural backgrounds while themes of identity, family, and love are explored.

I enjoyed this movie and I have to admit that it was far better than what I expected. The interpretations of both Lily James who played as Zoe Stevenson and Shazad Latif who played as Kaz Khan were very good and brought an emotional weight to their roles. However, the movie followed a somewhat formulaic path that didn't offer much in terms of surprises. Despite that, the combination of humor and romance was enjoyable. Overall, I have to say that "What's Love Got to Do with It?" is a nice, enjoyable movie and I believe that everyone can watch it.

My Review-

What's Love Got to Do with It? (2022)

My Rating - 7/10

Watching this movie I found quite an enjoyable experience an interesting story, pleasant characters plus an insight into cultural differences and prejudices.

The movie is a cross cultural romance starring Lily James as Zoe a successful documentary maker who decides that her next project will be a study on the success of arranged marriages in contemporary British society.

Her childhood friend and next door neighbour Kazim played by Shazad Latif has agreed to marry a young suitable Pakistani bride chosen by his parents.

Emma Thompson plays Zoe's slightly zany but loveable mum Cath who enthusiastically embraces the culture of her neighbours even trying to match up her daughter with a suitable husband .

Of course there is a clash of cultures and all the characters have to look at their prejudices and examine the question the title of the movie asks "What's Love Got to do With It "?

I liked the clever reference to another rom com movie Love Actually when Zoe titles her new documentary Love Contractually.

I like Lily James very much her character Zoe is confident in her profession but not so confident in her romantic choices.

I haven't seen Emma Thompson play such a lightweight character before she always gives a good performance .

Shazad Latif as the boy next door Kasim is also very good as the obedient son who reluctantly agrees to his persuasive parents wish to marry their choice of a suitable beautiful Pakistani bride.

The movies British screenwriter Jemima Khan obviously writes from personal experience as she fell in love and married Imran Khan the cricketer and future Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1995 till they divorced in 2004.

It's a well produced well acted movie one of those light weight movies that's easy to watch with a good mixture of wit and wisdom.

What's Love Got To Do With It!

I liked the initial idea, however to make drama you need to compress reality and here it was reduced to some very basic premises. Arranged marriage in uk is quite different to how things might be arranged in Pakistan. Nearly everyone I know in this situation has been allowed to pursue a love match up to the age of 30, it is only when this has not worked that matchmakers are sought.

The film tried to oppose arranged marriages against a love match and this binary approach does not reflect real life. Secondly there was a sense we were, the audience, being educated but not with a realistic representation.

Did I laugh yes I did, did they follow through with any proper conclusion, no they didn't! The only conclusion I could draw from the movie was arranged marriages are all about pretence and the parents needs.

At best is was a 6 outta 10, I enjoyed it whilst I was watching it, but afterwards it really was quite unsatisfactory.