Growing Up Smith

Growing Up Smith_360P

Growing up Smith can give you a freshly happy times. An Indian family of parents with an elder daughter and a younger son is in "States" to make a good life, earn well as CPA and though, doesn't say so but return to a comfortable retired life in India. It is hard work and harder still to see that American culture does not wash away the Indian values. But it is difficult for kids not to be affected by the culture they become part of every day. And there lies the little lovable tale beautifully directed by Frank Lotito. There are nuggets of humours spread around to bounce up your mood for happy viewing. Everyone plays the part perfectly well but not for an Oscar. Watching "Growing up Smith" just after I read Fatima Mirza's "A place for Us" brought me out of the gloom of Rafiq's family saga of moving to US. I am also reminded of Mira Nair's "The Namesake". Making a life in a different culture has many such stories. This one is "Cool" as they will say in the land that builds dreams; "The United States of America" Watch it, you will love it and feel had a good time

It's 1979 America. Smith Bhatnagar is a 10 year old Hindu American boy. He is introduced to the two loves of his life. His father tells him about his arranged marriage expected when he's 22. There is also Amy Brunner, the girl next door. His older sister is secretly dating a white boy. He gets bullied at school often rescued by Amy's father Butch (Jason Lee). Amy's parents, Butch and Nancy (Hilarie Burton), are the wild, fun couple of the neighborhood which hides some inner conflicts. Smith deals with the culture clash while Amy deals with a disintegrating home life. There are some funny insightful takes on an immigrant boy in the white suburban world. The two kids are endearing although less narration would help. The narration gets used as Smith's inner voice whereas I would prefer the character to say many of those things out loud. There is a couple of incidents where it should be his inner voice. There are scenes that surprise me. I'm taken by Butch's talk with the bully which is something I've never seen before. The adult Smith section is missing a couple of scenes. It's missing him with his sick Indian wife and it's missing him with an Adult Amy. They don't have to add much but I would have liked visual images of the two women. I just have a lot of little issues with new director Frank Lotito. For example, the closing song is "I can't help myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" from The Four Tops. That's a 60's song and this movie is almost 80's. A better filmmaker would figure that out.

Refreshing! I'd like to see more movies like this. Jason Lee anchored it for me. His character was a good character and he played it very well. Brighton Sharbino was a good decision on the casting director's end too. Everybody was great. I never wrote a review on IMDB but felt compelled to write one for this movie. Enjoyed it a lot.

Something here for everyone. not just another throw-away coming of age movie. Jason Lee as Butch Brunner was outstanding. There was a definite bodhisattva vibe to his character that was truly compelling.

Growing Up Smith is a coming of age story for a 10 year old Indian boy, whose family has moved from India to middle America. His parent's dream is for them to retain their Indian values while living the American dream, hoping to make enough money to return to India as kings. The kids just want to be normal (to their surroundings) kids. The movie opens with Smith, the 10 year old boy, being shown a picture of his future bride in India for when he's 22. Smith, meanwhile, is pining for the girl next door. The two families try and act neighbourly, with some lighthearted culture clashes happening along the way. However, Smith and Amy (the neighbor) do become close and that leads to a fatherly relationship with Butch, Amy's father. Smith, thus grows up with different life lessons coming from both of his father figures, his father and Butch, which does result in conflict with his more traditional Indian father. There may be parts of these lessons which some may see as racist, or as the white father figure showing the proper way over the Indian father. To me, though, they seemed more the way life was in the 70s. Kids would dress up in Native American costumes for Halloween. Parents from a foreign country would, and still go, get upset for leaning too heavily towards Western culture. The film is lighthearted, fun to watch, and while not brimming with laugh out loud moments funny in its own way. The last 10 minutes of the movie are melancholy compared to the first 90, but they do seem real to the story, and anything else would likely be a betrayal to the characters.

Set in 1979, this film centers on 10-year-old Smith who has emigrated to America with his parents and sister from India. He is trying to adjust to the American way of life amidst some bullying, racism, and an old school father who doesn't want Smith to stray from the Hindu culture and religion. Smith also befriends and has a huge crush on Amy, the girl next door, despite the fact that his father has prearranged a marriage for him when he reaches the age of 22. I might note that Jason Lee is excellent here as Butch, who is Amy's father and tries to help Smith in various ways. I thought some parts of this movie were cute and humorous, while other parts proved awkward and just didn't work well, so a mixed bag here. However, it ends in a most heartfelt and uplifting way, which greatly enhanced the film. There's also a wonderful musical soundtrack to enjoy consisting mainly of oldies. I might note there were no subtitles of my DVD copy, but I was able to obtain them by using the closed caption option on my remote. All in all, this movie, directed by Frank Lotito, doesn't always work but with some solid performances, an enjoyable soundtrack, and a strong ending it won me over.

Despite some incredible films made last year, Growing Up Smith remains one of the most fun films I saw a screening of. It's lighthearted, family-friendly, and just a great ride that puts a smile on your face throughout. It's smart and doesn't pander to its audience. It's been a long time since I've seen a coming of age comedy that hits all the right notes so fluently, it's heartfelt and intelligent. The music cuts fit the film really well, and the pop culture awareness for its period is spot on without feeling contrived. The child actors are particularly good, complimenting Jason Lee and Anjul Nigam well. A must see when it releases in theaters next month.

Just saw this film and had to say something! THESE are the kinds of films we've been missing all these years. Growing up Smith is the perfect combination of a family-kid friendly film with some teeth to it. Lighthearted with a message, funny, exuberant and most timely in today's America. This film won't preach to you and I can't put my finger on just one thing in particular, but it left me feeling euphoric walking out. Nostalgia, memories and emotions flowed through me. It hearkens back to a time where we were all innocent. As kids emulating our parents and yearning to break out. The performances are just as impressive. Jason Lee appears in a role I've never seen him play, and plays it to perfection: The beer drinking role model... Hilarie Burton and Poorna Jagannathan play characters who couldn't be more opposite, yet are equally as endearing. Anjul Nigam was terrific and relentless. At times I felt as though he was the film's hero and others it's villain. Lastly, the kids stole the show. Brighton Sharbino and Roni Akurati were delightful. They had tremendous rapport with one another and delivered as authentic performances as I have seen kids deliver in a film! If you want to have fun, if you want to laugh, if you want tears in your eyes and if you want to remember the good old days, THIS is the film to see! Very impressed, Bravo!

Read 4-5 great reviews with such as 'fun friendly' and 'hearfelt.' And for the most part the film delivered. Smith is a very young kid (age 10-12?) doing everything and more to become as American as apple pie. His next door crush, Amy, is his true first love soul mate though, from Amy's perspective they are simply 'best friends.' All actors are fine and we care about all of them. We know there will be a clash of cultures via summaries that give away the fact that Smith will eventually go back to India and return 19 years later. With that said, the circumstances in the final act are atrocious, unfriendly and heartless. His sister Asha has lied about her secret American boy friend and at age 14-15 is found by the parents making out in a car at a local lover's lane. Smith for his part blurts out nothing more then his childish 'I love' Amy. At age 12 or so this can easily be dismissed. After all there is zero between the two other then friendship. They are too young for any serious romance and there is in fact no romance, not even holding hands so of course not so much as a kiss. Does the family come down on daughter Asha who they note is a "*" "no man from India will marry." Nope, Asha stays in the USA. Smith, who has never even held Amy's hand is sent to India. Smith will be damaged goods, having been abandoned by both parents at age 12 or so, never to see his loving sister or parents until his he returns to visit them 19 years later. Culture aside, I am thinking just how devastated and damaging such a cruel abandonment would be for any young child. The Smith family reunion is bazaar, as if we was away for a few weeks at summer camp rather then abandoned by his parents for 19 years. I am at a loss for all the positive reviews for a screenplay that causes utter emotional destruction of 12 year old Smith.