"Polite Society" is a Delight

Sometimes a movie comes along that is just a pure and utter delight but will sadly fly under the radar. The type that likely won't be nominated for any Academy Awards, nor will it make a ton of money, nor will your aunts or uncles ask you about it at Thanksgiving. But a movie that you know. And hold dear. And immediately bonds you with others who have seen it. Polite Society is exactly that type of movie.

The poster promoting a polite society. — Polite Society (2023)

After Lena (Ritu Arya) becomes engaged to be married, her younger sister, Ria (Prya Kansara) will stop at nothing to stop the wedding from happening. As a recently engaged-to-be-married man, with a fiancé who has a younger sister, you can understand my concerns with this movie.

All kidding aside, Polite Society is one of the more enjoyable movies I have seen so far this year. Kansara is one of the most engaging young performers I have seen in years. She is so genuinely funny and captivating as Ria. Her desire to prevent her sister from getting married comes from a real sense of care. We feel that in Kansara's performance.

To add to why this performance and several others in the movie are so impressive is the action. Polite Society is an action comedy through and through. Taking inspiration from other movies of this type, Polite Society uses martial arts to drive the action.

Two women dressed in traditional Indian attire attending a polite society event. — Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Saima Khalid / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

One of the most charming aspects of the movie is its balance between realism and over-the-top action. One moment, Ria and Lena will share a genuine, tender moment. In the next, they will be literally throwing each other across the room. The juxtaposition makes for great comedy.

A Star-Making Performance

In the more straight forward comedic moments, the screenplay really shines. Kansara is so effortlessly charming. Her line delivery makes already humorous lines genuinely hilarious. I am so looking forward to seeing what she does next.

As a whole, Polite Society is an effectively good time. It is a truly enjoyable action comedy where neither genre feels overshadowed by the other. They work together in a perfect combination. I don't know if Polite Society will be one of the best movies I see this year when all is said and done. But tonight, it hit so perfectly where I wanted it to and I will be recommending it to anyone looking for a good movie this year.