There
is a good chance an Iranian wedding will at some point feature a reading from
Hafez, the great Persian love poet. Nousha Husseini would probably prefer his
satirical work. She is under tremendous pressure from her mother Ziba to marry,
but the bi-sexual DJ-artist she falls for is not exactly the kind of husband
her family had in mind. Nevertheless, Ziba is determined to have a big
ceremony, even if it kills her daughter in Sara Zandieh’s A Simple Wedding (title irony), which opens today on Long Island.
Husseini
works at the sort of public interest law firm where they talk about protesting
patriarchy as if that actually meant something. (Try protesting patriarchy in
her native Iran and we’ll all be much more impressed.) Regardless, Husseini is
rather grateful when Alex Talbot and his band of feminist performance artists
show up for her friend’s latest sparsely attended demonstration. There is
definitely something sparking between them, even though she is initially a
little unsure of Talbot’s sexuality. Needless to say, they quickly become an
item, but Husseini tries to forestall his introduction to her parents for as
long as possible—with good reason.
When
they do finally meet, Talbot finds himself agreeing to marry Husseini, much to
their mutual surprise. Yet, they go along with the plan, because they are crazy
about each other. As viewers will expect, things start to get awkward when
Husseini’s traditional Persian family meets Talbot’s divorced parents, as well
as his father’s new husband. At least Husseini’s reassuring Uncle Saman manages
to slip through the Iranian travel restrictions in order to attend.
It
is hard not to think “Big Fat Persian Wedding,” especially since Rita Wilson
plays Talbot’s romantically frustrated mother Maggie Baker (a little shticky,
but could have been worse). However, the humor is usually sharper than the
obvious comp and sometimes racier. Frankly, Zandieh & Stephanie Wu’s
screenplay is surprisingly amusing, even though it is painfully obvious
everybody will eventually come together and learn to appreciate each other’s
differences.
Tara
Grammy plays Husseini as a total mess—and she seems to enjoy being a mess.
Christopher O’Shea is charismatic as Talbot (and appropriately ambiguous when
he has to be). Of course, the great Shohreh Aghdashloo is wonderfully elegant
and commanding as Mother Ziba. Yet, it is instantly recognizable character
actor Maz Jobrani who really sets the hopeful tone for the picture with his
soulful portrayal of Saman.
Simple Wedding is small and
modest, but still pleasant. Sometimes, it is hard to tell whether Zandieh &
Wu are satirizing Husseini & company’s ultra-wokeness or playfully
endorsing it. Either way, the good humor makes it easier to endure. Jobrani and
Aghdashloo definitely also shine in the two most important supporting roles.
Recommended as an eventual date-night-at-home streamer, A Simple Wedding opens today, Valentine’s Day, at Great Neck
Cinemas at the Square.
