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.

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.

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!

Dr Cabbie was surprisingly not all that bad. It didn't follow the terrible and cheesy formula like many Hollywood-Indian type films. It had some deep moments and substance. We see a struggling Doctor trying to make it in Canada who finds love due to a woman giving birth in his cab. He later starts giving medical advice and service to customers. When things seem to be going well with his menial job and relationships his life takes a downward turn. It was a nice twist.

The cheesy dance routine at the end was unnecessary and not needed as were the silly bollywood references throughout the film. It had enough depth to make it on its own. Its a film about Indian people and culture in Canada, we get it. Kunal Nayyar was horrendous, he cannot act and is simply not funny. He should stick to portraying inaccurate Indian stereotypes in unfunny sitcoms. Overall not a bad film and passable. You will tolerate watching it but not likely remember it in years to come. I wish they would stop making brainless and diminishing Hollywood Indian related films to serve up to an ignorant western audience, this film was a good departure from that horrible pattern.

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.