Film Review: WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (2022): Lily James Shines in a Moving, Heartwarming and Earnest Dramedy

What’s Love Got to Do with It? Review

What’s Love Got to Do with It? (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Shekhar Kapur, written by Jemima Khan and starring Lily James, Shazad Latif, Emma Thompson, Mim Shaikh, Iman Boujelouah, Jeff Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Ben Ashenden, Asim Chaudhry, Alice Orr-Ewing, Peter Sandys-Clarke and Joshua Collins.

Shekhar Kapur’s new movie What’s Love Got to Do with It?  is the perfect romantic vehicle to suit the abilities of one of the most versatile actresses working today– Lily James. When Yesterday opened in 2019, James instantly won the hearts of movie-goers throughout the world and, now, she’s made an almost as good (and just as thought-provoking) film. The movie dabbles in the topic of arranged marriage and centers on a couple of good friends who explore the realities of the world of romantic love today. This film is enjoyable to watch and very moving despite any predictability in the film’s story line.

Lily James stars as a British documentary filmmaker named Zoe Stevenson who decides on a new project as the film’s main story line begins. In a play on the movie title, Love Actually, Zoe’s topic is “love contractually.” For her project, she enlists the help of her doctor friend, Kazim (Shazad Latif). Kazim comes from a Muslim family where an arranged marriage has successfully occurred. Kazim could be next in line to seek out an arranged marriage as well as the film’s plot develops.

Meanwhile, Zoe has run the gamut of unsuitable matches in the dating world and has a seemingly natural chemistry with Kazim. Emma Thompson plays Zoe’s mom, Cath, who is the typical charismatic mom who is living her life to the fullest in the twilight years of her life. In a hilarious scene, she dances at a ceremony which occurs when Kazim is about to wed the Pakistani woman he has selected for an arranged marriage, Maymouna (Sajal Ali). One problem, though: Maymouna is many years younger than Kazim and may not be the best match for him for other reasons as well.

This movie explores cultural and religious beliefs but underneath those complex topics, we get to see an authentically written character in Zoe. Though Zoe finds salvation in her work, her latest documentary project may have left her biting off more than she can chew. For one, she ends up exploiting the cultural values that she is showing in her documentary and, for another, she leaves Kazim feeling a bit cold through her actions. Kazim is a true friend. Zoe starts to care about what happens to him but, she ultimately learns, she cannot make up his mind for him as to the choices he will ultimately make in his life.

In another subplot, Zoe begins to date her mom’s dog’s veterinarian James (Oliver Chris). Although James is a nice guy, the chemistry isn’t there between Zoe and James. Instead, Zoe starts to rediscover feelings within for Kazim that she tries to fight in order to make the best and most authentic documentary she can but that doesn’t work out as anticipated.

During the latter stages of the film, we get a truly moving scene involving Kazim’s sister, Jamila (Mariam Haque) who married a man who wasn’t of the same faith. Jamila has a new baby and the fact that her family has not seen the child yet is heartbreaking. This is a film full of touching moments and the script treats all the characters respectably. It’s hard not to be moved by the concluding scenes of the picture.

Maymouna is one of the less successful characters in the picture, however. It is clear she is not ready for a marriage (arranged or otherwise) and the movie may force the relationship between her and Kazim to progress the plot. With some stronger writing, Maymouna may have had more depth. Still, despite this flaw, the movie is still an endearing one and easy to admire.

Lily James is absolutely charming here in one of her best comic roles to date. One can’t help but smile as she tells her nieces some fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella by changing the stories around to fit her own life experiences. Shazad Latif is also a terrifically relaxed performer who allows his natural talents to shine during the course of his performance in the film.

Emma Thompson has been on a roll lately with a very diverse body of work and it’s to her credit that this role is different from the last three she has played. Thompson must have been attracted to the film’s story which is brave and realistic. Thompson may play the light comic relief here but her role plays more true-to-life than some audiences may realize.

What’s Love Got to Do with It? challenges the audience to question certain upbringings it may disagree with but to still value its families and their beliefs nevertheless. Every person has their own wants and needs in life and they don’t always fit in with the customs and traditions we are raised to uphold. Shekhar Kapur’s movie isn’t as light as air as you’d expect from a typical romantic comedy. There’s some genuine substance here in the film’s plot and character development. In fact, there’s just enough to make this movie worthy of being one of the most likable films of its type to come into theaters recently.

Ultimately, Lily James has a likability factor which is simply amazing to watch and she carries this movie through its few flaws to almost guarantee the viewer will get something out of watching this picture other than just a few laughs. It’s a really good film.

Rating: 7.5/10

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