My partner and I chose this almost at random from Netflix, and we were delighted with it. We both like comedies with an Indian flavour, and this one didn't disappoint. Neither of us knew much about Indians in South Africa, other than Gandhi having started his political career there, and his building the philosophies which he would use to such world-changing effect in India. But the film has great humour, and a large heart. We loved the continual bickering of the two mothers, Shanthi and Jennifer, and of the corresponding gentleness of the husbands Preggie and Elvis, who act as a sort of foil to their wives. Mishqah Parthiephal is amazingly beautiful, and does a very good job of the bride-to-be Jodi, alternating between great joy in her husband-to-be Prishen, and fury at the way his mother always seems to get in the way at the worst possible moment.
There is a nice echo of the omnipresent mother in Elvis's own relationship with his mother Aya, who lives with them. Mariam Bassa plays the aged Aya to perfection, and has some terrific lines. I didn't fully understand (until at the end) the reason for her stealing money from her son to pay off another elderly person; I thought that this was one strand in the film which added nothing and could have been removed.
Another strand was the apparent love (although no words were spoken) between two members of the extended families, the man of which had this amazingly idiotic grin whenever he saw the woman of his dreams. I loved this.
The film ends with a paean to mothers in general, which would in any other circumstance be unbearably cheesy, but here seems to fit nicely the general tenor of the film. As I say, it's a film with great heart, plenty of humour, and it's a lot of fun.
My partner would give it 6.5 stars, feeling that the lead actress could have used more humour in her role. And I agree, but I can't seem to give half star ratings!
