Podcast | ‘The Big Sick’ Episode Recap

The Imbibe Cinema podcast crew reviews Michael Showalter's The Big Sick — a film that host Jonathan C. Legat calls one of his favorites. The movie is praised as an "absolutely adorable" love story based on the true courtship of writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon.

In this episode, Legat is joined by co-hosts Tricia Legat and Michael Noens where they delve into how the film expertly balances its real-life foundation with fictional elements, crafting a modern romantic comedy that is both hilarious and deeply moving. While the core narrative of Kumail and Emily's relationship and her sudden, serious illness is true, the script features embellishments. For instance, the subplot revolving around Emily's parents and their relationship was introduced at the suggestion of producer Judd Apatow.

The podcast discussion highlights the cultural conflict surrounding Kumail's traditional Pakistani family. Although the film fictionalizes that his family considered disowning him, the real Emily V. Gordon noted that after her recovery, Kumail's mother was initially sympathetic but then questioned why he was dating a "white lady." This struggle with dating outside of one's cultural or religious tradition is what the hosts feel makes the story universally relatable.

A key success of The Big Sick is its use of humor to navigate heavy sadness. The director noted that humor is often necessary to get through the darkest times, a philosophy that makes the film feel so honest.

The Big Sick's ability to integrate comedy into grief is reflected in a particularly powerful scene where Emily's mother, Beth (Holly Hunter), heckles a man who makes a joke about ISIS during Kumail's stand-up set. The hosts noted that her rage is coming from the helplessness and the fear of not being able to protect her sick daughter.

The love story's added layer of complexity comes from the portrayal of the parents, demonstrating how being a parent outweighs everything.

Holly Hunter and Ray Romano's characters represent a "good cop bad cop" dynamic. Hunter’s character is protective and decisive, asserting that the ultimate responsibility for their daughter's medical care "is on us." Romano's character, meanwhile, is gentler, making an effort to bond with Kumail and compile extensive medical research notes.

After Kumail's family is "united-ish" in their disapproval, the film concludes with Kumail going back to them and declaring, "I reject your rejection," emphasizing that a family needs a member to stand firm against tradition to keep from stepping away.

The podcast crew praised the filmmaking elements that contributed to the movie's authenticity. The chemistry between the two leads was praised, driven by brilliant dialogue.

Zoe Kazan, who played Emily, was chosen early on because the real Emily V. Gordon found her to be quirky and genuine. Holly Hunter was noted for her commitment, reportedly moving props and ensuring she and Zoe had the same necklace to foster an on-set bond.

The film features a choppy editing style that effectively emphasizes emotional moments. When the characters are happy and romance is clicking, the pace is fast, but when things go wrong and Emily is sick, the narrative slows down and time seems to stand still in the hospital.

The Big Sick achieved an overwhelming majority of positive reviews, holding a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this episode's release. Interestingly, the hosts point out that even the critical disagreements seem to acknowledge the film's undisputed quality.

Episode Beverage Pairing

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces banana liqueur
• ½ ounce coffee liqueur
• ½ ounce peach liqueur