ENGLISH BUTLER MASALA CHAI (Maneesh Malhotra). 92 minutes. Opens Friday (April 30). For venues, trailers and times, see Movies. Rating: N
Early on in English Butler Masala Chai, a narrator tells us that this isn’t your standard “immigrant parents clinging to old culture” kind of movie. But the trite comedy is exactly that cup of tea.[rssbreak]
There’s Indian father Vivek (Sachin Sharma), a real estate tycoon with a vendetta against the British. Then there’s his sweet American-raised daughter, Vidhi (Tara Joshi), who keeps mum about her boyfriend, Harry (Geoff Hymers), because he happens to be a descendant of the English throne.
So the typical culture clash remains intact. The only difference in this bargain-basement Bend It Like Beckham is that the father’s refusal to accept a son-in-law who’s not Indian is dressed up as a Brit-specific grudge instead of the general inclination towards cultural homogeneity.
To ease Dad into their interracial romance, the scheming couple hatch a nonsensical plan. Harry applies to be Vivek’s butler, while Vidhi brings home her gay and brown BFF, Praveen (Richard Young), as a makeshift all-Indian fiancé.
This scenario is supposed to be a barrel of saffron-flavoured laughs. It’s not. Neither are the recycled gags or the outrageous, dim-witted supporting characters that seem lifted from daytime sitcoms.
The only relief here is the young, capable cast.
