critics consensus

Ali's Wedding uses its very specific setting to explore universal ideas about relationships -- and in delightfully smart, funny fashion. Read critic reviews

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Ali's Wedding Photos

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Movie Info

After a reckless lie, the son of a Muslim cleric finds himself caught between his sense of duty and following his heart. He must follow through with his arranged marriage or be with the girl he truly loves.

Genre:

romance
Original Language:

English (Australia)
Director:

Jeffrey Walker
Writer:

Osamah Sami, Andrew Knight
Release Date (Streaming):

Jun 8, 2018
Runtime:

1h 46m
Production Co:

Matchbox Pictures Inc.

Cast & Crew

Osamah Sami
Ali

Helana Sawires
Dianne

Don Hany
Mehdi

Robert Rabiah
Mohsen

Frances Duca
Zahra

Jeffrey Walker
Director

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Ali's Wedding

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (2)

Much of the film's success is down to [Osamah] Sami's winning performance. He's completely charming as a more nerdy version of himself and he gets good comic support.

June 13, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
Ali's Wedding neatly strips away the solemnity enveloping that lead balloon of a word "multiculturalism." There's a joyously comic lack of inhibition here and, even better, we're told it's largely a true story.

August 30, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
This is a film in which you will hear a letter read aloud, with a voice-over saying the words "you dared to dream", delivered without irony. It is, as they say, what it is.

August 30, 2017 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

Luke Buckmaster
Guardian
I don't know why the release of this lovely film has been delayed so long (I saw it in Adelaide in October last year) but it's worth the wait.

August 25, 2017 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

David Stratton
The Australian
Walker's debut mines rapid-fire laughs and bountiful heart from a story of romantic misadventure set in train by a young man desperate to live up to his father's expectations.

June 15, 2017 | Full Review…

Harry Windsor
Hollywood Reporter
Boosted by goofy humour, Sami embraces rom-com tropes including a mad dash to the airport, playfully mucking around with Muslim stereotypes in the way only an insider can.

August 19, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Stephen A. Russell
The New Daily (Australia)
Engaging Australian romcom has some language.

June 27, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Renee Schonfeld
Common Sense Media
With Australia's current policies on immigration and Islamophobia on the rise in many Western countries, this unabashed presentation of a Muslim love story feels brave and necessary.

June 26, 2018 | Full Review…

Zoe Crombie
Film Inquiry
The somewhat predictable setup and conclusion allow for some nuanced takes through [star and co-writer Osamah] Sami's Muslim lens.

June 22, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Kahron Spearman
The Daily Dot
A meandering but warm, adorably revealing and often funny romantic comedy set in a slow-to-assimilate Australian Islamic community.

June 20, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Moore
Movie Nation
Ali's Wedding works because it doesn't feel the need to compare cultures or focus on the differences. Instead, it chooses to look at how similar we all are, when we're all a bit of a dopey, smitten kitten.

June 13, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Amelia Navascues
Triple J
Stream it. It's smart, funny, and poignant, a rare combination for romantic comedies these days.

June 13, 2018 | Full Review…

Jade Budowski
Decider