By: Danyal Somani

For her latest assignment, documentary filmmaker Zoe (Lily James) wants to chronicle her childhood friend Kazim (Shazad Latif) and the journey towards his arranged marriage, having Shekhar Kapur’s What’s Love Got to Do with It? explore whether one can actually fall in love through this type of matchmaking rather than a traditional Western “love-marriage”.

Since I am of South Asian descent, and love seeing more representation of South Asians in the media, I was quite excited for this rom-com. What’s Love Got to Do with It? delivers in this area. With its grand wedding events, its music, and the dynamics in Kazim’s family, I felt I was with my own family while I watched this movie. Aside from the satisfying representation, Kapur’s film is an all-around enjoyable film as well. The story’s themes of family and acceptance, along with the familial relationships, work towards a memorable and emotional finale which left me tearing up. James and Latif also have great chemistry as romantic leads, and I’d love to see them in another project together down the road. 

The pace is broken up by humourous situations and sentimental couple interviews but, unfortunately, these scenes drag the film. The interviews are repetitive, a fairy tale tangent involving Zoe reflecting on her own dating life becomes excessive, and some running jokes (especially one including a family dog) are not as strong as the film thinks they are. However, these issues are not enough to deter a recommendation for What’s Love Got to Do with It?.

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Danyal Somani: @DAS_1011