Dr. Cabbie

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.

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.

Rating: 3.5/5 The center of this story line can win the heart of the audience no matter what part of the world they are from. The movie is a very nice try to project a major issue in Canadian society. Values (of a job) always come above anything else for a person.Strength of this message could have made this an outstanding movie .

Acting of central character was average, but as a simple sober guy it suited well. A switch of mood from suicide to birthday party to jail was too sudden. Audience love a smooth story build up which was totally shadowed by overacting funny character of Dr. Cabbie's friend and family.

Deepak Veer Chopra (Vinay Virmani) is an eager new doctor in Delhi, India hoping to follow in his late father's footsteps. He emigrates to Toronto with his mother where his accreditation is not recognized. Her brother Vijay and his wife Rani are their sponsors. He befriends cabbie Tony (Kunal Nayyar) and becomes a cabbie himself. He starts treating many of his fares. He falls for coffee girl Natalie Wilman (Adrianne Palicki) and delivers her baby in his cab. Her playboy baby daddy Colin (Chris Diamantopoulos) is running to be mayor.

This is perfectly nice with really broad humor. It's a little too broad at times and a little too serious at other times. Vinay is a perfectly nice new actor. There are a few recognizable faces in the cast. This is all perfectly nice but it won't break through in America. First, the lead is a nobody. Second, it takes place in Toronto. Neither of which excites an audience. This may be a nice film but nothing exceptional.

Dr. Cabbie is an ambitious, earnestly written film with a thought provoking, culturally relevant premise. Canadians have often heard of the taxi-driving doctor, especially in the context of medical shortages, and this film attempted to address the issue in an approachable manner. It has all the elements of a classic story: the handsome, charming lead who just wants to help people, a beautiful love interest and single mother, a kooky sidekick and an evil villain with political ambitions. The story occasionally faltered (especially with respect to the politician's storyline and the scenes with him and his father) and it often went for the cheap laughs - slapstick and all - but Dr. Cabbie did so with such enthusiasm that one couldn't help but enjoy the ride!