Name: Polite Society
Genre: Comedy, Action, Drama
Released: 2023-04-27T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Priya Kansara, Ritu Arya, Shobu Kapoor, Ella Bruccoleri, Seraphina Beh

The opening scene of Polite Society (2023) is a martial arts sequence so kinetic it feels like a punch to the gut—literally. Ria Khan, played with boundless energy by Priya Kansara, launches into a fight choreography that’s as precise as it is exhilarating, setting the tone for director Nida Manzoor’s unapologetic blend of comedy, action, and drama.

Manzoor’s film follows Ria, a teenage martial artist-in-training obsessed with becoming a stuntwoman. When her older sister Lena (Ritu Arya) announces her impending marriage, Ria sees it as a threat to Lena’s independence and enlists her friends to pull off the most ambitious wedding heist imaginable. The premise is absurd, but Manzoor commits to it with such ferocity that it becomes oddly compelling.

What works best in Polite Society is its commitment to sisterhood as both emotional core and narrative engine. Ria’s determination to “save” Lena from a life she didn’t choose is rooted in genuine affection, even if her methods are wildly misguided. The film’s action sequences—shot with a gritty, handheld energy that contrasts sharply with the polished aesthetics of traditional heist films—are where Manzoor truly shines. A standout moment comes when Ria and her friends infiltrate the wedding venue, turning what could have been a clichéd set piece into something frenetically inventive.

The performances anchor the film’s tonal whiplash. Kansara is a revelation as Ria, balancing teenage naivety with a ferocious willpower that makes her both relatable and inspiring. Arya, meanwhile, brings a quiet depth to Lena, making her more than just a damsel in distress. The supporting cast, particularly Shobu Kapoor as their no-nonsense mother Fatima, adds layers of humor and pathos.

But Polite Society isn’t without its missteps. The film’s pacing stumbles occasionally, particularly in the second act, where the heist plot feels stretched thin. Some of the comedic beats land with a thud rather than a laugh, and the occasional foray into science fiction (as noted by Metacritic reviewers) feels tacked on rather than organic to the story.

The film’s greatest strength—and its biggest weakness—is its refusal to be contained by genre conventions. Manzoor’s ambition is admirable, but it sometimes leads to tonal dissonance that undercuts the film’s emotional resonance. That said, when Polite Society works, it works spectacularly. The final act delivers a climax that’s both visually stunning and thematically satisfying, wrapping up Ria’s journey with a sense of closure that feels earned.

In an era where action-comedies often play it safe, Polite Society is a refreshing anomaly—a film unafraid to take risks, even if not all of them land.