The Big Sick

2017

Director: Michael Showalter

Genre: Romantic Comedy

A while ago, I took a week long trip around the midwestern US. I made a point to visit Nevada and New Mexico and tried to see if I can spot any UFO's. This was partly because during the majority of this trip I was listening to Kumail Nanjiani's podcast: The X Files Files. 

Some of the episodes of the podcast that linger in my mind the most, are the ones he recorded with his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Their chemistry and energy while discussing certain episodes of the show was just so fucking charming. I could have listened to the two of them talk all day.

There are some relationships that are meant to be. Seeing two people who really seem like they belong together feels wonderful. Every romance movie tries to copy this feeling. These movies want to audience to leave while saying "I'm so happy they got together." Perhaps my issue is that I've already said that. 

This is a good film. It's not exceptional, but the writing for the characters is clever and well thought out. However, it never reached those emotional highs I felt when driving around Area 51 and listening to two people who love each other talk about that episode of the X Files where Scully eats a bug.

I wonder, what is more important: the truth, or the story of that truth. Emily's coma was real and this is the story about it. But the truth is that this was a horrible event that real people went through. Is hearing about the truth more emotionally resonant that witnessing a reproduction of reality? 

Maybe Mulder always knew that the truth could never be captured on film, and that's why he never brought a damn camera with him.

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