Name: What's Love Got to Do with It?
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Released: 2023-01-26T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Lily James, Shazad Latif, Shabana Azmi, Emma Thompson, Sajal Ali

The opening scene of Shekhar Kapur’s What’s Love Got to Do with It? (2023) is a whirlwind: Zoe Stevenson, played by Lily James, stumbles through a bustling London street market, dodging vendors and tourists alike. It’s chaotic, vibrant, and immediately sets the tone for this British romantic comedy—a film that wants to be both culturally specific and universally relatable.

The premise is simple but rich with potential: Zoe and Kazim Khan (Shazad Latif), childhood friends now in their thirties, find themselves at a crossroads. Kazim’s parents, played with warmth and firmness by Shabana Azmi and Jeff Mirza, are determined to arrange his marriage in Pakistan, adhering to tradition. The film explores the tension between cultural expectations and personal desire, asking whether love can flourish within an arranged marriage.

Kapur, known for his visually inventive work on Elizabeth (1998), brings a keen eye for detail to this smaller-scale story. The contrast between London’s gritty urban landscapes and Pakistan’s lush, colorful settings is striking, reinforcing the cultural divide at the heart of the narrative. Emma Thompson, as Zoe’s mother Cath, delivers a performance that balances humor and sincerity, grounding the film in emotional authenticity. Her chemistry with Asim Chaudhry’s Mo the Matchmaker adds levity without undermining the film’s deeper questions.

The film’s strengths lie in its well-crafted performances and perceptive exploration of love and tradition. Lily James and Shazad Latif have undeniable chemistry, making their characters’ emotional journey compelling. The supporting cast, particularly Shabana Azmi as Kazim’s mother Aisha Khan, adds depth and nuance to the arranged marriage subplot.

However, What’s Love Got to Do with It? falters when it veers into predictable romantic comedy tropes. The pacing stumbles in the second act, relying too heavily on well-worn comedic beats rather than trusting its unique cultural perspective to drive the story forward. Some of the humor feels forced, and the film occasionally struggles to balance its desire to be both a rom-com and a serious exploration of identity.

The film’s ending, while satisfying, doesn’t entirely escape the constraints of genre expectations. It leans into familiar resolutions rather than taking bold risks that might have elevated it beyond the typical romantic comedy fare.

In the end, What’s Love Got to Do with It? is a pleasant but uneven experience.