Definition Please (2020) User Reviews

Okay (but just okay) siblings relationship comedy-drama

[paul-allaer · 6/10 · 25 January 2022]

As "Definition Please" (2020 release; 91 min.) opens, we are at the 2005 Scripps National Spelling Bee, where 8 yr old Monica wins it all. In a subsequent 'victory your', Monica appears on the "Learning with LeVar" TV show (that would be LeVar Burton of course). We then switch to today, and Monica, now a 20-something yr old, is caring for her ailing mother. Then out of the blue, her brother Sonny returns home for a one week stay in connection with an anniversary remembrance of some sort for their dad. Can the siblings overcome their strained relationship for their mom's sake?

Couple of comments: this film is a labor of love from Sujata Day, best known for her recurring role on the HBO series "Insecure". Day not only wrote, produced and stars in this, but for good measure she also makes her directing debut. The movie reflects on the underlying tensions between Monica and Sonny, while also assessing their status as second generation immigrants from India. The movie is billed as a comedy-drama, but alas I am sorry to report that there isn't much of either: not a lot of laughs, not a lot of drama either. On top of all that, the movie suffers in comparison to another recent release, "Donkeyhead", which delves into very similar (if not outright the same) issues but in a much stronger and compelling way. It's not that "Definition Please" isn't good. It's okay, but just okay, in my book. That aside, I do extend a hearty kudos to Sujata Day, who pours her heart and soul into this release, filmed on a microscopic budget.

"Definition Please" premiered on the film festivalcircuit in 2020 and then pretty much disappeared. The movie has been given new life when Netflix picked it up and started streaming it this past weekend (and where I caught it). If you are in the mood for a siblings relationship comedy-drama, I'd readily suggest you check out "Definition Please" as well as "Donkeyhead" (both now on Netflix), and draw your own conclusion.

family communication... always a tricky subject

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 4 July 2022]

Written and directed by sujata day, who also plays monica in the film! As a young girl, monica was the over-achiever, pushed by mom to work extra hard. As a result, she won the big spelling bee, and became famous. Her brother never received the attention from mom, and has always resented it. So when they return home as adults, they still don't get along, and mom is disappointed. I'm not a doctor, but it appears the brother also has mental health issues, in addition to feelings of resentment. He has a very short temper, and gets angry and violent over small things. The story is good, but moves pretty slowly. Some of the scenes are over the top. An interesting game they play about halfway through is what we used to call carems... where you flick this plastic piece against that plastic piece to get them all in one place. Haven't seen or heard of that game since I was a kid. Monica finally confronts sonny about his violence issues, and they talk about meds. A small role for levar burton. At one hour twenty minutes, monica's friend gives her some really great advice. It's pretty good. It feels like someone's actual story. And i'm sure many of us have dealt with similar issues with family or friends.

Bakwas and hard to watch.

[zohairkhan-42361 · 1/10 · 4 February 2022]

I often wonder how shows like this are funded and so many great concepts slip through the cracks. The answer is being connected btw.. This is actually about how an LA privileged writer wants the audience to feel bad for her.

This scapes the bottom of the barrel comedy and poor story telling. Somehow worse then "never have I ever" I guess this is what gen z wants? Forced diversity with no real depth.

Nice Indie Gem

[kaideneve · 7/10 · 27 January 2022]

Was pleasantly surprised with this film. Although it was certainly made on a budget and no one is going to get a best actor award here, I enjoyed the story, characters, and the brief look into the second generation Indian family dynamic. It could have gone more into the aspects of abuse and depression, but the intent here is definitely more on the lighthearted side. Nevertheless I would call this a solid watch due to a good story, likeable characters, and a fun script.

Low budget Desi Film

[qui_j · 3/10 · 27 January 2022]

This a low budget film that deals with the dynamics of a Desi family. It's slow moving and coupled with terrible acting, fails to engage. It will probably find a niche among its intended target Desi audience.

Rises above it's potentially cringe-making central topic

[lara-milvain · 8/10 · 22 January 2022]

Adult movies about spelling bees - one had to arrive in a format that made it accessible and visible outside the current dominant demographic of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Renaming it the "Scribbs" event didn't even fool this Caucasian Australian.

First of all, don't be fooled into thinking this is a kid's film just because it opens with our Scribbs National Champ on her victorious media tour, including a starring turn standing next to Levar Burton (Australian Trekkies have been denied regular access to Levar's reading & educational career post TNG). The adult orientation kicks in pretty quick.

The story of someone who had super-early super-success - essentially peaking before they turn 10 - is familiar to quite a few of us. Definition Please works through the strain this kind of prodigious early start places not only on the performer, but also in those close to them. Mixing in family crises with the ongoing search for self-acceptance makes this a film that is entirely relatable, even if you've never been past the local rounds of a school spelling/maths/writing/poetry/art/music (anything but sport, essentially) competition.

It's a film for us oddballs, use weirdos who ran for school council, went to those regional education seminars, had meetings with the school principal that didn't involve your parents *nor* discipline.

Great film about family, culture, siblings, and mental illness

[toothmanmichaelc · 8/10 · 25 January 2022]

Sujata Day's film uses the trials of a national spelling bee champ (scramp) as a way to show us Bengali second-generation immigrants dealing with their legacy. Finding a second act after becoming the scramp, Monica is living in Greensburg , PA (the film represents it well).

Still when her brother Sonny returns home for an anniversary Sikh memorial for their father, stuff happens--why are bedroom doors locked?

Monica is a great character, smoking pot while out doing tutoring for other potential scramps in Greensburg, hanging with her bestie who is in recovery, and taking care of her mother Jaya.

Jaya is a great handful--expressive, and ill--she is crucial in every scene in which she appears. "i hate the F word!" The toll that the family has undertaken for eight year old Monica to become scramp appears slowly throughout. The family has taken another hit as well but this slowly becomes apparent--Sonny is not dealing with his bipolar disorder and this leads to the movie's great scenes.

This film is funny and dramatic and it tenderly shows how this family has adapted and endured. Highly recommend that you watch this.