MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Sean Mullin
Writer/director Sean Mullin’s feature debut, Amira & Sam, is an interesting take on not only the romantic comedy genre, but also the returning vet genre. Centering around an Army veteran returning from his most recent tour overseas, Mullin’s film extends itself into a number of wide-ranging topics, proving helpful in some areas and detrimental in others.
Who plays the in-shape Army vet returning from duty, cruising around on his motorcycle while working the night-shift as a security guard, you ask? Why, none other than Martin Starr. That casting decision might come as a surprise to some, but once you witness his turn as Sam Seneca you find yourself hard pressed to think of a better choice.
He’s the perfect combination of the affable, good-intentioned Everyman with a strong moral compass mixed with the social awkwardness needed in order for Amira & Sam to work. He’s not the stereotypical fumbling, bumbling buffoon that wooes his love interest through well-intentioned romantic failures. Starr instead plays Sam as decent, morally upstanding good guy with a humorous wit and a heart of gold. He’s awkward, although confidently awkward (if you could put it that way) as he’s quick to deflect the uncomfortable moments around him into humor.
Matching Starr on the charm level is his counterpart, Dina Shihabi, as his initially reluctant love interest, Amira. An Iraqi immigrant living in the States illegally, Amira spends her time hawking pirated DVDs on the street corner with gusto and zeal, impassioned sales pitches filled with basic understanding of the films and her choppy, yet energetic, implementation of the English language (she completely sold me on the idea of watching Jim Carrey’s Yes Man). Shihabi portrays Amira with a beautiful mixture of self-empowerment, apprehension and an endearing sense of oblivion.
The strength of these two central performances are what works best in Amira & Sam. Everything contained within their blossoming relationship, and its evolution, plays wonderfully on-screen while the side plot of Sam’s foray into Wall Street detracts from the film’s appeal. There are some insightful exchanges regarding America losing its idealism, along with its way, but the scenes come across as staged and forced taking away from the genuineness of the romantic side of things.
However, Mullin still shows promise in his debut despite the missteps; missteps that I’m sure others will overlook and forgive which I can agree with since the romantic side remains strong. And, it’s definitely refreshing to see a film wherein the lead character – a man returning from war – returns with no adverse side effects instead just as morally-grounded as always.
