Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

punishmentpark Mostly thanks to the BBC, I've come to know Omid Djalili as a funny, sympathetic loudmouth and that's why I was willing to give 'The infidel' a go. It all starts out pretty good, but the combination of drama and comedy becomes more and more awkward toward the end, and the part where the imam turns out to be a former pop star just didn't work for me at all - even if it based on one Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens.The scenes between Djalili and Richard Schiff are quite funny, although the humour doesn't always work; the whole Bar Mitswa scene should have been left out completely. A lot of supporting roles were worthwhile, especially those by Miranda Hart (adoption agent), Matt Lucas (rabbi) and Leah Fatania (daughter).Too bad about the downsides, but still good to see a little film like gets made and aired on the BBC, that's why I'm being lenient with my rating; 6 out of 10.P.s.: one the best jokes was religion-free, by the way: Mahmud leaves his house and faces the camera. A 'wind' rises... he looks around mysteriously... the viewer imagines a UFO could be landing any minute...? No, it's a guy with a leaf-blower...

wcpom I read the plot summary of this film before I watched it "An identity crisis comedy centred on Mahmud Nasir, successful business owner, and salt of the earth East End Muslim who discovers that he's adopted - and Jewish. " I liked the idea and thought it had a lot of potential for some laughs. That, together with the fact that I had enjoyed what I had seen of Omid Djalili before, a sort of middle eastern Alexei Sayle, made me quite keen to watch it. But the delivery was so much less than the potential. The jokes were mainly lame, the supporting cast were really weak and why on earth was the black cab driver American? It would have made much more sense if he had been a Londoner and probably would have been much funnier.It was really a by the numbers "we are all the same at heart" story line. But, because of the weak writing and delivery, it was hard to really care very much if everything worked out in the end.Such a pity as I was hoping for something along the lines of a cross between Four Lions and Friday Night Dinner. Now that would be worth watching.

MartinHafer "The Infidel" has a funny premise, but the film also treads on many serious topics--straddling the fine line between social satire and social commentary. While it's not a brilliant film, I really respect the filmmakers for making it--and it's good for a laugh.Omid Djalili plays a Muslim Brit. While not exactly religious, he is anti-Jewish and tries to fit in to his local Muslim community. However, his entire world is turned upside down when he learns that he was adopted...and his birth parents were Jews! He doesn't know what to do--should he try to find his birth parents? Should he ignore all this? Should he perhaps become a Jew or tell his friends and family about this? In addition to answering these questions, the film gets very serious when the man's son falls in love with a lady---and her father is a rabid anti-Semite and jihadist. What's poor Omid to do?! As I said, the film talks about a lot of VERY sensitive and serious issues and is sure to infuriate the more close-minded viewers--though I doubt if they'd see the film in the first place. But, it also manages to be very silly at times--keeping a light mood when treading on tough topics. I appreciate this very much--it took some guts to make the film. My only complaints are that occasionally the film looked a bit rushed--such as the very contrived ending. It was fun--but not the most inspired portion of the film. Still, you could do a lot worse than watch this film! By the way, this film would make a WONDERFUL addition to watching "West Bank Story"--another film which treads the same territory but manages to do it even better. In fact, "West Bank Story" received (deservedly) the Oscar for Best Short Subject Film--it's that good.By the way, the film has some very crude language--so hold on tight and don't show it to your mother-in-law!

FlashCallahan Mahmud Nasir lives with his pretty wife and two children. His son plans to marry Uzma, the step-daughter of Egyptian-born Arshad Al-Masri, a so-called 'Hate Cleric'.Mahmud, is not exactly a devout Muslim, he drinks alcohol, and does not pray five times, but does agree that he will appease Arshad, without whose approval the marriage cannot take place.Shortly thereafter Mahmud, while going over his recently deceased mother's documents, will find out that he was adopted, his birth parents were Jewish, and his name is actually Solly Shimshillewitz.He conceals this information from his family, and with the help of his neighbour, tries to understand the Jews, their religion and even locates his birth-father, who is on his death-bed in a nursing home.Mahmud does not know that Arshad has been checking into his background, has videotaped him setting fire to a Jewish cap during a protest, and has already approved of him, despite of his letter to the media about 'moderate Muslims'.But on the day of the meeting with Arshad and Uzma - Mahmud will find his life drastically changed...Back in the nineties, Baddiel was a comedy genius, giving us some of the freshest material against a lot of British has beens ho were constantly going on about the government. Fast forward almost twenty years, and Baddiel is turning into one of those comedians, with this lukewarm affair.The film just gets tangles up in it's own smugness, it tries to be too clever, the premise is simple, but gets bogged down by the silly script and the unclear narrative.The cast are good, and for a stand up comedian, Djalli is great in the lead role.But the film appears to be too careful as to who it will offend, where it should have done the opposite, making it a little controversial.There are interesting aspects though, the sub-plot involving the disgraced eighties singer is a good inclusion, but the rest of it is sadly wasted, despite the good cast and the good intentions.