Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comedy-drama sequel has language, racism, violent scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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West Is West
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
WEST IS WEST follows 13-year-old Sajid (Aqib Khan) as he is forced to travel to Pakistan from the United Kingdom and learn about his heritage by his father, George (Om Puri).
Is It Any Good?
Despite making a bright start that's full of fun performances from familiar faces, this comedy-drama sequel to East Is East quickly becomes a disappointing muddle. Committing to too many storylines, West Is West is forced into a rushed final act that has a glut of neat conclusions that often spring up out of nowhere. Part of what made its predecessor a hit was its collection of bickering siblings trying to establish their own identities under the eye of their strict Pakistani father in northern England. Moving the action to rural Pakistan dramatizes another chapter from the life of writer Ayub Khan-Din, but the father and son identity crises that should lie at the heart of the story are left largely unexplored. The late Puri is one of several returnees from the first movie in reliable form. But unlike before, these characters are adrift in a story that can't decide whether it wants to be a rites of passage or a day of reckoning.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between Sajid and his father, George, in West Is West. How did it change over time? What do you think Sajid discovered about George from their time in Pakistan?
Discuss the violence in the film. Did you expect it? Was it upsetting? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Talk about the bullying Sajid faced. How did it affect him? How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence.
Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
The movie is a sequel. Had you seen East Is East? Do you think this film worked well as a standalone story? What other sequels have you seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 25, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : June 20, 2011
- Cast : Om Puri , Aqib Khan , Linda Bassett
- Director : Andy De Emmony
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Icon Productions
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 15, 2023
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