Growing Up Smith (2015)

In 1979, an Indian family moves to America with hopes of living the American Dream. While their 10-year-old boy Smith falls head-over-heels for the girl next door, his desire to become a "good old boy" propels him further away from his family's ideals than ever before.

Director:

Frank Lotito

Writers:

Anjul Nigam, Paul Quinn

Stars:

Jason Lee, Anjul Nigam, Brighton Sharbino

5 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Lee	...	Butch Brunner
Anjul Nigam	...	Bhaaskar Bhatnagar
Brighton Sharbino	...	Amy Brunner
Hilarie Burton	...	Nancy Brunner
Roni Akurati	...	Smith Bhatnagar
Poorna Jagannathan	...	Nalini Bhatnagar
Samrat Chakrabarti	...	Older Smith Bhatnagar
Shoba Narayan	...	Asha Bhatnagar
Jake Busey	...	Officer Dick
Tim Guinee	...	Officer Bob
Alison Wright	...	Mrs. Reynolds
Austin Harrod	...	Billy MacNamara
James Hyland	...	Stan Swanson
Jack Hyland	...	Steve Swanson
Paul Castro Jr.	...	Patrick

Storyline

GOOD OL' BOY is the story of Smith, a ten-year-old boy from India growing up in Small Town, America in 1979. While the boy's family straddles the fine line between embracing the American Dream and preserving their Indian heritage, there are barbecues, Halloween and hunting. And as Smith falls for Amy, the girl-next-door, he finds in Amy's father Butch the cowboy he wishes his own father could be. But alas, when Smith's father Bhaaskar sees Smith is quickly losing any hope of remaining a respectable Indian boy, he banishes him back to India. Nineteen years later Smith will return to America, back to a place he once called home.

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Plot Keywords:

overalls | elementary school | tube sock | hunt | girl next door | 

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Taglines:

Living the American Dream

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Growing Up Smith

Filming Locations:

Kingston, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,867, 3 February 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$14,867, 3 February 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brittany House Pictures,Emedia Films,Quixotic Road

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The world premiere was June 1, 2015 in Kirkland, Washington as part of the Seattle International Film Festival.

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Goofs

The movie was based in the years 1977-1980 judging by Saturday Night Fever, Star Wars, etc. In those days US$1 was approximately 8-9 Indian Rupees. So in the beginning when they said $2 was 125 Rupees, that is based on currency rates of 2015 on wards.

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

User Reviews

The first crush.

The film was completed back in the T15, but it only released recently. Another Hollywood's Indian connection theme. This is about an Indian family living is the United States. Everything was told from a young boy's viewpoint. Growing up in a traditional Indian house, daily facing the western society, his struggle on caught between two cultures were shown to us as a hilarious life adventure.

I have been waiting for this film, at some stage I had forgotten its existence. When I came across an old trailer I've had saved in my hard drive, immediately I started to stream the film. It does not have big stars nor the big budget. It was a simple comedy about the culture collision. So there's no reason to expect it to surprise me. I enjoyed just as the way it was.

The original title was 'Good Ol' Boy', upon release, it was renamed. Both the titles justifies on what the film had narrated. It was a 70s tale, a little Indian family in the United States is almost living the American dream had to face the cultural differences. A young boy from the family named Smith is obedient to his parents, but when love bug bites him, all are going to change forever.

When a most famous family in their neighbourhood becomes close to them, kids from both the families develops a think friendship that goes all the way from their homes to the school. But it was more than a friendship for them. As the days of months of cultural exchange between them while their parents struggling to get along, finally, what brings the twist in the tale takes us straight to the finale.

-xX] There she was, a touch of heaven a mere 30 yards from me, yet a heaven unreachable. [Xx-

The story was a flashback. The old Smith recalls his childhood memory, particularly his first crush. The cross culture narratives are really fun, especially when they highlight the outcome. Because the outcome is not same for everybody, but how they make it for their comfort. It was a typical Indian parenting. But the kids wanted to experience the real America. Just like the Oscar nominated animated short 'Sanjay's Super Team'.

I think the writing was good, that included writers from both the cultures. Yet there were some scenes, too offendable, if you are an Indian. Because Indians easily offend for everything. Since it was a comedy flick, those things do not mean anything so seriously. It was just a way to make it very funnier, but the things became sillier. That's a traditional way of making a Hollywood comedy. If you are familiar with that, you will get it. But they have pushed it hard, yet the film was not harmed with boring cliches.

From the picture colour tone to everything, takes us to the 70s, like it was made 30-40 years ago. Nice casting too. Particularly the boy. And not to forget his father as well who might have been a supporting character, but a show stealer. Jason Lee too had a decent role and so the rest of them. A feature film directional debut for the filmmaker and he was not bad at all. He should only get better from here on.

It is entertaining. A good timepass film, a good weekend film to watch with family and friends. It was a nice comedy that's gone unnoticed for several reasons which are common for such small titles. But in this digitally streaming world at your finger tip, that's should not happen. If you are reading this, then I say try it. Of course it was not a great film, but one of the best films of the year. The critics say it was a nice film and so those small chunks of people who saw it also thumb upped. Now it's your turn to join them or go against than totally ignore it!

7/10