The Tiger Hunter

Sorry, I know not everyone here has immigrant parents. I just meant that if you have parents or family members who immigrated in the late 70s/early 80s, or if you yourself immigrated during that time (and especially if you are South Asian), you might find a lot you can relate to.

I don't have immigrant parents either. In fact, I'm the one who immigrated. But things are SO different now compared to 10 years before I was born. I do have family members who immigrated during the time period in which this movie is set, and they are constantly reminding me how much easier I have it compared to them. And they would tell me stories like the ones you see play out on the screen. And watching it all happen, does make me appreciate my life so much. Because I had the support of those who immigrated from my part of the world in the 80s, I have a support system that they never had.

I'm making it sound like the movie is a downer, but it's really not. It's a pretty standard by-the-book comedy. As a comedy, I can't say much for it. But it does offer a perspective that is very rare in Western cinema. The movie follows an Indian guy called Sami Malik as he decides to chase the American Dream. But while Sami is the protagonist, you do get to meet a large cast of secondary and minor characters who are also immigrants from all over South Asia (and even North Africa). And it was nice to see that this movie at least briefly acknowledged the diversity within South Asia.

I will definitely be recommending this to all those immigrant relatives, and I'm sure they will enjoy this, but I also wonder if other immigrant communities might also find a lot here they can relate to. And as for those whose ancestors moved to America many generations ago, I think you can still get a nice sense of how the idea of America appealed so much to people from countries with limited opportunities.

One reviewer hated this and sure it's no polished Hollywood blockbuster.

Yet it is a charming tale about a young man who travels overseas to pursue his dreams and live up to his fathers image.

I found it funny and refreshing to watch a movie about a group of non alpha males who want to love and support each other. Remaining optimistic in the face of depressing realities of their daily lives.

You won't regret watching this if you like family movies or low humour drama's with a happy ending.

Give it a go, you can always switch off or turn over if it's not your thing, but I think you will end up watching it to the end.

I was blessed to have seen this movie. It made me laugh and it made me love life.

One thing is certain - this movie is unpredictable! Its humor is random but amazingly good at it. The writers did a great job at mocking talk shows, creating in the process an original piece of art, unique kind of show filled with great jokes, unexpected story twists, satirical segments!

I went into this movie expecting the worst, after reading another review but was totally surprised by this movie. I enjoyed it, a lot.

I do not normally write reviews but I thought I had to add another perspective to the one that nearly made me miss out on watching this movie.

Okay it wasn't laugh out loud, though I did find myself chuckling more than half a dozen times, this was a heart warming story about the underdog rising from his position. Not to harrowing heights but to his rightful place. It was about one man uncovering the true treasures in life. Friendship, respect and yes, love.

I liked it because it was told from a totally different and quite a quirky perspective. The world is different and this was another side to the multi faceted coin called life.

I walked out of this movie with a smile on my face and made me once again believe in the goodness of people.

One reviewer had us believe the movie was chaotic but I had no problems following the story as it was simply laid out with its mixture of flashbacks and real time. Set in the late seventies India and America. It showed us another viewpoint. It showed America as a land, people in far off countries, often though of as a place of unlimited opportunities and freedom. Although the reality was far from the truth. It showed a love story that not only felt real, it's a reality for many people facing parental expectations and arranged marriages.

This movie also showed us that even though America didn't live up to its initial expectations, it was still a land that offered freedoms that their home countries didn't. It showed them happy in there lot. A place where even a street sweeper owned a car.

One reviewer would have us believe that the actors didn't seem to enjoy themselves in the making of this movie yet I felt that is far from the truth. I just saw them having fun with it all under the guise of making this entertaining movie.

Will it win an Oscar, no. But it definitely isn't a waste of an hour and a half of your time.

I've seen this movie three times and laughed out loud every single time. Lena Khan's directorial debut is a revelation. Funny, touching, absurd, heartwarming and sentimental, this hits all the right notes. A feel good movie that'll leave you smiling.

Danny Pudi is charming as Sami, an engineer who heads to America to make a name for himself, so that he might live up to the legend of his father, the great tiger hunter, and also woo his childhood sweetheart Ruby. Karen David sparkles as the best friend/object of Sami's desire. You believe their friendship is real and their chemistry leaps off the screen.

Jon Heder and Kevin Pollack turn in fantastic performances as "coworkers" at Sami's depressing job (he works in the basement, drafting designs all day for a failing microwave business). But the real star amongst the dozen sidekicks is Babu, played with crackling glee by Rizwan Manji. Babu is the id of the movie, a cheerful immigrant living the American dream with his General Lee car and his "fiancée" Mary Tyler Moore. Babu is every college student moving out for the first time, into an apartment with their best friend (or 13), dead broke, but full of hope and excitement.

Seeing this film not only reminds you of how much immigrants have made the US what it is, but it also hearkens back to a time when the American dream seemed tangible, romantic, and possible. Frankly, the world needs more Samis, Rubys, Babus, Alexes, Kareems, Rehans, Vikrams, Abdullahs,Parags and Siddeshes.