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So much average

Absolutely Fantastic

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A nice surprise about 2 very different characters one an ex-army American soldier man and one Muslim refugee woman.With that set-up this could have turned out to be just any typical rom-com fare but it avoids doing that by keeping a great sense of realism throughout the movie with characters and developments that all seem natural. As a big 'Freaks and Geeks' fan from my youth it's nice to see yet another Apatow 'family member' get his shot at the limelight, in this case Martin Starr who played the lovable geek with massive glasses; Bill Haverchuck in the series.And he handles the lead-role splendidly with natural charisma as does his love interest in the movie Dina Shihabi as Amira.All in all a small independent drama-comedy that succeeds at being funny and dramatic when it's supposed to be, a slice of life type of movie.

The synopsis did not do this picture justice. I expected something with an 'embrace diversity' theme, which, to me, always seems to contradict the 'we're all equal as Americans' theme. In the end, what we end up with nowadays is the 'tolerate diversity' position. This pleasantly surprising film seems to make us look at some of the uncomfortable truths about American society through the eyes of two people who are somewhat dysfunctional within it.Sam comes back from a long tour of duty overseas as a Marine and can't really understand the new moral standards being supported by his family and friends. Amira doesn't really fit into the American society within which she lives or the Moslem background she was raised in. As someone who has lived overseas for many years, I can attest to the fact that you can see your own society more clearly when you return to it and can be surprised by the behavior that those who live there have learned to accept as normal. The movie looks at the problems of growing class separation, the pursuit of money at all costs, and the growing acceptance of insincerity as a necessary evil.That said, this is not a diatribe. There is no seizing of the moral high ground here. These viewpoints arise naturally and you don't ever feel like someone has an ax to grind. In fact, the characters themselves may cross, what some would consider, a moral boundary. I'm certain Amira's behavior would be frowned upon by most Moslem viewers and some Americans may question aspects of Sam's behavior. In short, both find solace in each others isolation within their own cultures. They embrace diversity at the individual level.The acting is good and the relationships are believable, despite what the synopsis may make it seem. It is certainly a movie that will make you consider your views on culture, wealth, and honesty a little more closely. Although some scenes may be a bit contrived, for the most part, this is a film that deserves more attention and is well-worth watching.

This was an entertaining and upbeat film, a well crafted love story. The acting, screenplay and cinematography were all excellent. I found the story line to be very compelling. The actors were all convincing in their roles and the story was beautifully told. Sam, a former Army officer who had supposedly returned "unscathed" from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan was nonetheless having problems adjusting to civilian life. Amira was an Iraqi immigrant who was also having difficulties in America, and in particular had suspicions about American soldiers. Their meeting (through her uncle, his former translator in Iraq) led to romance. How they both dealt with the prejudices of the people around them was very revealing.I thought the screenplay was excellent and the production values were superb.View and enjoy!

Loved the movie! Great characters, funny dialog with a smart plot that makes you think about politics, war and love in a clever and humorous way. The script is tight as the characters are built early on showing complicated relationships. As it evolves, you learn the complexities war brings into relationships in this very global world. Amira and Sam finds a unique way to tell the story through the eyes of a very unknown hero of war, local interpreters that serve our armed forces and become a critical extension of the team. While these unseen soldiers don't get much credit, they risk the lives of themselves and their families. Amira & Sam captures this incredibly brave act in a lovely RomCom that will have you laughing throughout. Congrats to Dina Shihabi as she shines in her debut with other strong performance by Martin Starr (freaks & geeks, etc) and Paul Wesley (vampire diaries). Paul plays the role of the unlikeable hedge fund manager perfectly while Martin may steal the show as the funny, honorable yet unassuming Iraq veteran trying to re-acclimate back into a 'normal' life.