Polite Society is a coming-of-age action/dramedy about London teen Ria(Priya Kansara) a martial artist and aspiring stuntwoman who becomes concerned about her sister Lena's(Ritu Arya) involvement with a new suitor Salim(Akshay Khanna), a rich geneticist with an overbearing mother Raheela(Nimra Bucha). Ria enlists her best friends Clara(Seraphina Beh) and Alba(Ella Bruccoleri) to break up the couple.
Kansara leads the film well, she nails the physicality perfectly, appearing to do most of her own stunts and a fair amount of broad, potent, physical comedy. The emotional arc she struggles a bit, its still effective, but the story and the tone are so big and full of so much energy, as the lead she's asked to do a lot and sometimes she can play it a bit narrowly. Arya is a delight, after her electric turn in Umbrella Academy her naturalism and ease on screen is much needed here and really serves to give the sisters' relationship depth. Khanna is a little flat but Bucha is deliciously Machiavellian, here's hoping she continues to appear more in Western media(she was recently the heavy in Ms. Marvel). Beh and Bruccoleri are also pitch perfect providing much of the comedy not only with straight up jokes but with their energy and patter. All in all an extremely solid ensemble that serves as a direct conduit for the contagious wild enthusiasm of the narrative.
Clearly shot on a budget it still has a refreshingly unique look and approach with some action scenes kind of effortlessly blending from actual to metaphorical by way of magical realism, but like really fun. The soundtrack is an absolute killer and the pacing just grabs you and hurtles you into the story. The production, all around, is clean, propulsive, and inspired.
Performance, script, and direction meld to create a piece of unique entertainment with heart.
Currently streaming on Peacock and available to rent on most VOD platforms.
Don't Miss It.
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