The romantic dramedy about men hitting their mid-twenties and early thirties can feel stale. However, every once in a while, a movie feels unique enough to justify playing in this sandbox. Shook, from director Amar Wala, explores the struggles of a young man finding his way as a writer. Its basic idea is simple, but that allows Wala to let his character development shape the film. At times, Shook seems too tied to its straightforward romance. Yet by the conclusion, we’ve Wala threads the needle to make Shook a more complicated tale than one might assume.

For Ashish (Saamer Usmani) – who goes by Ash – cynicism is easy to embrace. After their divorce, he’s grown angry at his parents, Vijay (Bernard White) and Nisha (Pamela Sinha). He does not believe in love, and despite meeting a young barista – Claire (Amy Forsyth) – Ash does not trust her intentions. When his father reveals a medical condition, Ash realizes he needs to change priorities. However, his core trust issues continue to stick in his mind, causing him to lash out at those who care about him.

Shook could be written off as a low-energy dramedy with a manic pixie dream girl, but Wala and co-writer Adnan Khan pull unique moments out of the story. Shook never treats Ash with kid gloves. Instead, the dramedy lets its supporting characters actively push back on Ash’s choices. His unwillingness to empathize or listen to reason puts him in direct conflict with his family and friends. They all hope for happiness, and instead, Ash often chooses the path of most resistance.

In these smaller moments, Wala and Khan explore the microaggressions those of South Asian descent often experience. This includes many jokes by white characters around recreational marijuana use and a boldness to crack jokes about South Asian culture. When Ash and his father walk into a dispensary, they’re greeted by a white man telling them about “Hindu Kush” and uttering “Namaste.” These aspects help justify the overall approach to the story and provide examples for audiences to side with Ash’s cynicism.

While Shook puts Claire in a position to empathize with Ash, it ultimately falls back on tropes essential to the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” stereotype. She’s quirky but also cool. She can do no wrong, even if she stalks the lead because she’s genuine around him. Claire gets lit and shot in ways that evoke desire in the audience. Forsyth does her best with the role, but the foundation on the page is difficult to overcome.

However, Shook soars when we enter her more personal life. When she’s not actively on a date with Ash, the negative energy from her friend group points to some uncouth ideologies among her inner circle. This feels authentic, especially when her friends laugh about the suburb where Ash lives and disregard Claire’s interest in him as a meaningless sexual experiment. It’s a devastating moment that many in multiracial and multicultural relationships hear. Those elements soar, making the pieces of the standard relationship drama feel out of touch.

Usmani shows some charisma but is not always the best fit for the role’s comedy. Then again, Shook wants us to know Ash is too self-serious. That comes through when he’s involved in more comedic beats. Instead, Sammy Azero, Faizan Khan, and Izad Etemadi pick up the slack. Usmani excels when the dramatic beats need to hit, including a visit to the doctor with his father. It’s an imperfect performance, but the Three Body Problem and Inventing Anna actor proves capable of ensuring the emotional beats hit hard.

Additionally, there’s a lot of excellent material for White and Sinha. The veteran actors bring gravitas and frustration to their roles, even when asked to handle Ash’s arrogance. White plays into the humor. Sinha shines as the heart of the film, bringing incredible poise to a role that requires empathy. It’s an excellent performance that helps the rest of Shook feel grounded.

While some of the writing leaves Shook vulnerable, the movie’s heart and passion push through. Add some excellent shots and editing, and Wala adds more artistic flourishes to the film than many of its ilk can dream up. One hopes there’s more risk in Wala and Khan’s next collaboration, but on the whole, you can feel the personal aspects working well.

Alan’s Rating: 6/10Check out Shook at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Check out our other Film Festival coverage here! Please check out other Sunshine State Cineplex reviews here!The post TIFF: SHOOK – A Portrait of a Man in Arrested Development appeared first on Sunshine State Cineplex.