The Big Sickis one of thebest Prime Video comedies, even if its star, Kumail Nanjiani, has some regrets about the final movie. Nanjiani started his career as a stand-up comedian and rose to fame on theHBO comedy seriesSilicon Valley. In 2007, Nanjiani also married Emily V. Gordon, which made for a key professional relationship.
While Nanjiani went on to star inthe MCU movieEternals, theStar WarsseriesObi-Wan Kenobi, and the Hulu miniseriesWelcome to Chippendales,that was all made possible with his collaboration with Gordon on the brilliant rom-comThe Big Sick.Years after its release, the origins and aftermath of the movie remain fascinating.
The Big Sick Is An Incredible Romantic Comedy
The Big Sickis aninventive and pitch-perfect rom-comthat delivers on what people love about the genre, while also making a completely original entry. Written by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon,The Big Sickstars Nanjiani as Kumail, a stand-up comedian who falls for Emily (Zoe Kazan), only for an unexpected medical issue to complicate things.
Despite being a relatively small rom-com,The Big Sickwas a box office success, earning more than ten times its $5 million budget. It was an even bigger success with critics, scoring 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.Gordon and Nanjiani went on to be nominated for an Oscar for their screenplay, further elevating the charming real-life story surrounding the movie.
The Big Sicknails the elements of the genre, building a sweet and layered romance between the two characters that has the audience rooting for them and sad when the inevitable conflict comes into play. It is also hilarious, with some bold humor coming from Nanjiani, as well as a hilarious supporting cast, which includes Ray Romano and Holly Hunter.
However, it is the unexpected shift in the plot that sees Emily get seriously ill and fall into a coma, which makes the movie special.The Big Sickmanages to maintain the emotional stakes of the situation while also still finding the humor in it.
Even withall of the great rom-comsthat have come out recently,The Big Sickstands on its own as a completely unexpected and outstanding approach.
The Big Sick Is Based On The Screenwriters' Relationship
Part of the reasonThe Big Sickwas able to get so much attention for such a small movie was because of the true story behind it all. Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon wrote the screenplay forThe Big Sickbased on their relationship.Early in their romance, Gordon similarly had a health scare and was in a coma.
Whenproducer Judd Apatowlearned about their story, he suggested it would make a great romantic comedy and urged them to write it. Various aspects of their relationship in the movie were based on reality, including Kumail being hesitant to tell his parents about the relationship because of their cultural differences.
However, Nanjiani and Gordon also acknowledged that there are various aspects of the movie that were completely fictional. One key example is that Emily’s father in the movie, Terry (Ray Romano), had an affair. Nanjiani also admitted that his mother was very welcoming to Emily when he told her about their relationship.
There are not many rom-commovies that are based on true stories, but the autobiographical nature ofThe Big Sickis particularly special. Such a drastic shift in the story would need to be grounded in some authenticity.Nanjiani and Gordon’s script feels real, with genuine detail that only someone who has been through this could see and find humor in.
Emily V. Gordon Has Continued To Write Acclaimed Projects
Having also starred in the lead role inThe Big Sick, Kumail Nanjiani has obviously become the more recognizable of the duo, but Emily V. Gordon has continued to make a strong career for herself as a writer. Following the success ofThe Big Sick,Gordon went on to write for the HBO comedy seriesCrashing.
Gordon then went on to create and write forLittle America, an anthology television series that explored the lives of immigrants in America. It was also announced in 2020 that Gordon would be writing the adaptation of the acclaimed anime movieYour Name.Kumail and Gordon also announced a new moviethey would be writing, similar toThe Big Sick.
Kumail Nanjiani Actually Regrets The Big Sick
As muchacclaim asThe Big Sickreceived, it also had to deal with some controversy that followed it. One of the subplots of the movie concerns Kumail dealing with the arranged dates his parents have set up with single Pakistani women, with the assumption that he would marry one of them.
The movie explores the difficulty Kumail faces in feeling detached from his parents' beliefs and not being interested in the relationships they have forced upon him, especially after meeting Emily. However,some criticized the way the Pakistani women in the movie were depicted as being undesirable.
In a 2021 interview with Vulture, Nanjiani shared an understanding with some people being unhappy with these depictions:
“Our movie was the first one in a long time where there were multiple Desi female characters, and the first few you see are reduced. People wanted to see themselves. It’s something I completely regret. I would not do it that way now.”
It takes confidence as an artist to look back on your own work and admit to things you would do differently. Nanjiani having regrets about this aspect of the movie is understandable, especially as he points out, the film was a rare time such communities were depicted in a major project.
The Big Sickis also a beautiful and moving story about all kinds of different relationships. Despite Nanjiani’s specific regrets, it is a movie he and Emily V. Gordon can remain proud of and one that will stand the test of time.
