103. What’s Love Got To Do With It?; movie review

 

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Cert 12A

109 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, moderate sex references, drug references

We needed a bit of a cheery movie so what could go wrong with Emma Thompson starring in a picture produced by the folk behind Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually?

Unfortunately, What's Love Got To Do With It neither matched its billing nor our anticipation.

This is down to three factors... the path of its east-versus-west premise being so well trodden, most of its gags being given up in its trailers and, I am sorry to report, two lead characters who failed to engender empathy.

I usually like Lily James but her 30-something, lovelorn documentary-maker, Zoe, is just a bit too needy.

And, we were a tad confused by Shazad Latif's surgeon who decides to follow Pakistani tradition in his 30s and opt for an 'assisted' marriage.

Latif's character, Kazim, delights his parents (Shabana Azmi and Jeff Mirza) and grandmother (Pakiza Baig) by embracing the concept and enlisting the help of a hilarious matchmaker (Asim Chaudhry).

Through a video link, Kazim meets the beautiful but much younger Maymouna (Sajal Ali) and marriage is arranged.

All of this is recorded by Zoe who has talked them into making a movie about the lead-up and wedding.

There are several promising elements to Shekhar Kapur's movie but the fun, provided by the likes of Thompson and Chaudhry is secondary to the pathos.

As said, the central problem is with Zoe and Kazim. Despite being mature, outwardly successful people they are strangely naive and, frankly, rather irritating.

What's Love Got To Do With It is vibrant and there are good moments - a scene near its end in Kazim's parents' house is especially heart-warming.

Unfortunately, it is followed by one which could have been predicted an hour previously.

This sums up Jemima Khan's script - there are little nuggets but there is no golden seam.

Reasons to watch: Easygoing family comedy/drama

Reasons to avoid: Doesn't convert enough laughs

Laughs: Three

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know?  In 1995, Jemima Goldsmith, who wrote What's Love Got To Do With It?, married Imran Khan, a retired cricketer who would later go on to serve as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. They had two sons and the couple divorced in 2004.

The final word. Emma Thompson: "It’s philosophically helpful and uplifting to remember that romantic love is a myth and quite dangerous. We really do have to take it with a massive pinch of salt." Radio Times

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