2021 Directed by Roshan Sethi
As if their pre-arranged date, organized by their traditional Indian parents, wasn’t uncomfortable enough, Ravi and Rita are forced to shelter in place together as COVID-19’s reach intensifies. Hopefully for their sake, opposites do indeed attract.
"Take it from somebody who is unemployed. The less you do the less you do." -Rita,
-2021 Ranked: boxd.it/aL2Ys
Geraldine Viswanathan and Karan Soni are really great in this awkward covid romantic dramedy about two Indian-American people whose parents are trying to arrange marriages for them. While the end drags a bit I love the ending shots. I appreciated the critical and humorous approach to culture difference and the effective pacing throughout the first hour or so. It's a fun film that I'll remember as one of the better attempts at a covid story.
A couple will take “7 Days”,
To get through that awkward phase.
Having a date,
That isn’t so great,
Is saved by pandemic delays.
We realize there are ways to get two people in a room together other than covid right?
Tribeca Film Festival
Ravi (Karan Soni) and Rita’s (Geraldine Viswanathan) parents believe in good, old-fashioned arranged marriages. Despite being the unlikeliest couple on the planet, COVID strikes and they are forced to be stuck together. Most people are sick of COVID films, but this one is pretty decent and engaging.
Both Rita and Ravi have secrets that they have hidden from potential mates in order to seem more appealing. Obviously, it all comes out during the pandemic when Ravi is forced to “sleep over” against his will. Ravi also has asthma and is at-risk, much to the chagrin of the wilder Rita who wants to go out. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for a light look at serious subject matter.
Vegan alert:
-Chicken is eaten and thrown up
-Zebra print rocking chair
Vegetarian points:
Rita is pescatarian, but willing to go veg
The COVID angle goes in a direction that doesn't fit with the tone of the rest of the movie for me, which is a shame because it puts a dent in what is otherwise one of the most charming and well-rounded rom-coms in recent years. Roshan Sethi and Karan Soni's script masterfully confronts the Western world's lack of understanding in regards to arranged marriage while still not shying away from the difficulty of such situations. The trick is that the script essentially treats these character's circumstances the same way that any rom-com treats the circumstances of their two main characters. There are obstacles, misunderstandings, deceits, and genuine bonding - these ones just happen to also have cultural specificities that we don't see in Hollywood movies. Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan are both actors I've been a big fan of for quite a while now and they absolutely shine here. Give them all the rom-coms you can throw at them.
Tribeca Film Festival 2021
Y’all better get used to watching these new COVID comedies because they’re here and they’re shallow asf.
My frame of reference when it comes to Indian arranged marriages is the season 2 finale of 'New Girl'.
'7 Days' is a modern look at Indian arranged marriages parred with a rom-com twist set during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Karan Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan are delightful as the film heightens the "Oscar & Felix" archetype within an unromantic meet-cute. If there is any reason to give this film a shot, it's thanks to these two.
My issues come down to the jokes which I really didn't find funny. Comedies are hit-or-miss so it's always a roll of the dice. Personally found it more amusing than laugh-out-loud funny.
What ultimately saves the film is the 3rd act where it…
This is a pretty good COVID film. Not a great movie, but a good film. It's much better than The Bubble or Locked Down. Granted, those are pretty low bars, but still a much better movie. It definitely lags in the middle, but I think it begins and ends strong.
7 Days is a cute, charming movie about Covid. Or, rather, it's a movie about two Indian-American twentysomethings who are on a date (arranged by their mothers) when the lock-down hits. Now they have to shelter-in-place together. Only for him to learn her profile on the dating app maybe exaggerated how traditional she actually is. Can these two mismatched kids make it work when trapped inside together?
I enjoyed this warm fuzzy film. It's a pretty charming, pretty cute, pretty funny little romantic comedy. Yes, it's also reminding you constantly of Covid but, really, they could be locked together for anything and the movie would remain frothy fun.
The two leads have a lot of chemistry together and are themselves…
Karan Soni (Dopinder from Deadpool) and especially Geraldine Viswanathan are just are great team, they have so much chemistry. This is a COVID lockdown rom-com movie that works quite well under the production of the Duplass Brothers. It offers such a refreshing look into traditional Indian dating.
The movie is genuinely sweet and entertaining. There’s not many rom-coms that flow this well and feel unscripted. Yeah we know how this going to end but it’s all about the journey. Total comfort food.
P.S.
TBH I had a whole review typed out that accidentally got deleted so y’all are getting the Snicklefritz .
