Dr. Cabbie

I appreciated some of what the movie was doing... mostly, the basic premise that there are immigrants with advanced degrees who can't find jobs and are forced to become cabbies. But there is just so much cringe.

Dr. Cabbie's entire family was a caricature of an eccentric Indian mother and an eccentric Indian uncle. And the uncle's wife, whew; at least that was a little bit funny. The supporting characters like the new best friend Tony, the landlord, the landlord's daughter, etc. Are also all caricatures.

And somehow movies about South Asian immigrants always involve them falling in love with a white blonde woman. This movie is no different. At least Adrienne Palicki did a great job and she had some interesting things going on. There is a reason she's the only actor I am mentioning by name in this entire review.

The movie is pretty diverse and includes characters from diverse backgrounds, but it also seriously leans into negative stereotypes about these groups, which was SO CRINGE. And finally, it tries to make a heartfelt plea about how Dr. Cabbie is selfless and transcends race and religion and boundaries to treat patients; it made it seem like he emigrated to Canada out of the goodness of his heart, except no, he did that to seek opportunity for himself. If he truly cared about helping the needy, he was more needed in India than in Canada. So, don't give us that BS, movie.

Dr. Cabbie was an interesting movie that combined elements of Bollywood and Hollywood, swinging the audience in a number of exaggerated plot twists. I prefer my romance comedies to be a little more believable and could not help but be distracted by a few details such as voice- overs that were obviously dubbed in and Deepak somehow being given Timberlands to wear in jail. Overall though, the storyline was well thought out, the characters were a riot and the acting was strong throughout. Not a bad watch if you are looking for an easy laugh and an unrealistic plot line.Dr. Cabbie was an interesting movie that combined elements of Bollywood and Hollywood, swinging the audience in a number of exaggerated plot twists. I prefer my romance comedies to be a little more believable and could not help but be distracted by a few details such as voice- oversthat were obviously dubbed in and Deepak somehow being given Timberlands to wear in jail. Overall though, the storyline was well thought out, the characters were a riot and the acting was strong throughout. Not a bad watch if you are looking for an easy laugh and an unrealistic plot line.

Went to the advance screening in Vancouver and had a really good time. The movie is light and funny and had the audience in splits. I'd put this up there with the Harold & Kumar movies - zany comedies with no great intellectual pretences and made purely so the audiences can have 100 minutes of fun and belly laughs. While all the cast members including lead players Vinay Virmani and Adrianne Palicki do a fine job, the surprise package is Kunal Nayyar, better known as Raj. Big Bang Theory fans you're in for a special treat! The story takes the issue of non-recognition of IMGs or International Medical Graduates from many countries not being allowed to practice in Canada despite a shortage of doctors, head on. But mercifully it does so without getting preachy. While the presence of two artists of Indian origin may tempt people to think it will appeal only to a certain demographic, I think Dr. Cabbie is the kind of movie that will be enjoyed by ALL of Canada.

The protagonist of this movie is a Gold Medalist Doctor from India. He migrates to Canada without even checking if they would allow him to practice. He is this dumb, OK. After knowing that he can't practice in Canada, what would anyone choose driving a cab in a new country or being a doctor and saving lives in your own poor country? Yes, he is that dumb, he chooses to be a cabbie. So, any plot in this movie can not be taken seriously. Now, the jokes, they are offensive and stale. Women with big chests show up everywhere. The migrant cabbie (Kunal) feels at ease in harassing white women, I guess director trying to satisfy fantasies of cabbies. As far as acting goes, the lead, Vinay does not even try. I guess the only audience this movie is made for is the NRIs, But I wonder if people exposed to Hollywood would ever consider watching this.

This film has a predictable plot and the stereotypes are all alive and well here: Indian, white, Italian, the Canadian medical system, and, oh yes, let's all laugh at the fat girl who seeks love. There are a few laughs but not enough of them. The pluses? Vinay Virmani's 'Deepak Chopra' is likable and charming. Kunal Nayyar has some good moments as Tony, a fellow cabbie. The love interest Adrianne Palicki is, well, tall. The rest of the cast seems a bit overwrought although Mircea Monroe has one of the few genuinely funny turns as Deepak's Ghandi-spouting, exotic dancing, yoga-infused white 'auntie'. The film includes some Bollywood-style music sequences. And his fans may be surprised that Kunal Nayyar is a pretty good rapper. But the few funny moments in this film can't carry the rest of the cliché fest.