This film has some plot problems, and there are a couple of pivotal scenes that were less than perfectly executed, but it's just so darn charming that it's easy to overlook any flaws and get swept away by the breathtaking cinematography, beautiful score, and engaging performances by the two main actors.
Katic and Jaffrey have the kind of chemistry every filmmaker dreams of for their romantic leads but very few get. There's such a distinct Old Hollywood vibe to their interactions that it makes you nostalgic for the good old days when movies were there to provide fun entertainment and escapism, not weigh you down with grit and stark realism. Their banter is witty and well-paced without feeling forced or cliché, and while at times your modern mindset may wish the script would allow for some deeper emotional reactions to the subject matter, it's their uncontainable charm and playfulness that make this movie worthwhile.
It's also refreshing to see a Muslim-American man as the romantic hero, who works for the government, cracks lame jokes, brushes off stereotypes with nonchalance, rolls his eyes in frustration at extreme religious ideology, and overall acts like an ordinary guy who finds himself on a wild adventure with an ordinary gal, who just happens to be Jewish. (This dynamic was much more of a focus and explored in much greater detail in the book this movie is based on, A New Song by Sarah Isaias, but is treated as no big deal in the movie, which felt like a bit of a missed opportunity but also was strangely encouraging at the same time. Because maybe it IS no big deal, and people from different religions really CAN respect each other as people and work together and even be attracted to each other without challenging the other's belief system or getting hung up on their differences. Crazy thought, right?) Hollywood needs more of this.
Bottom line: This is a fun little adventure film, a treasure hunt, a romantic comedy with a little something extra to make you think, and I highly enjoyed it.
Katic and Jaffrey have the kind of chemistry every filmmaker dreams of for their romantic leads but very few get. There's such a distinct Old Hollywood vibe to their interactions that it makes you nostalgic for the good old days when movies were there to provide fun entertainment and escapism, not weigh you down with grit and stark realism. Their banter is witty and well-paced without feeling forced or cliché, and while at times your modern mindset may wish the script would allow for some deeper emotional reactions to the subject matter, it's their uncontainable charm and playfulness that make this movie worthwhile.
It's also refreshing to see a Muslim-American man as the romantic hero, who works for the government, cracks lame jokes, brushes off stereotypes with nonchalance, rolls his eyes in frustration at extreme religious ideology, and overall acts like an ordinary guy who finds himself on a wild adventure with an ordinary gal, who just happens to be Jewish. (This dynamic was much more of a focus and explored in much greater detail in the book this movie is based on, A New Song by Sarah Isaias, but is treated as no big deal in the movie, which felt like a bit of a missed opportunity but also was strangely encouraging at the same time. Because maybe it IS no big deal, and people from different religions really CAN respect each other as people and work together and even be attracted to each other without challenging the other's belief system or getting hung up on their differences. Crazy thought, right?) Hollywood needs more of this.
Bottom line: This is a fun little adventure film, a treasure hunt, a romantic comedy with a little something extra to make you think, and I highly enjoyed it.