Growing Up Smith (2017)

February 3, 2017 (US) • Comedy, Drama, Family • 102m

Overview

In 1979, an Indian family moves to America with hopes of living the American Dream. While their 10-year-old boy Smith falls head-over-heels for the girl next door, his desire to become a "good old boy" propels him further away from his family's ideals than ever before.

Director

Frank Lotito

Writers

Anjul Nigam, Gregory Scott Houghton, Anjul Nigam, Paul Quinn

Top Billed

Roni Akurati

Keywords

No keywords available for this title.

Where to watch

Free / Included

Fandor Amazon Channel

Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Roni Akurati

Smith Bhatnagar

Brighton Sharbino

Amy Brunner

Jason Lee

Butch Brunner

Anjul Nigam

Bhaaskar Bhatnagar

Hilarie Burton Morgan

Nancy Brunner

Poorna Jagannathan

Nalini Bhatnagar

Jake Busey

Officer Dick

Samrat Chakrabarti

Older Smith Bhatnagar

Shoba Narayan

Asha Bhatnagar

Tim Guinee

Officer Bob

Alison Wright

Mrs. Reynolds

Austin Harrod

Billy MacNamara

James Hyland

Stan Swanson

Jack Hyland

Steve Swanson

Alice Callahan

Older Amy Brunner

Randall McNeal

Christian Man

Dan Coplan

Paramedic Clemmons

David Aranovich

Officer Randall

Paul Castro Jr.

Patrick

Edward Prostak

Middle-Aged Vampire

Deema Aitken

Dude #1

Laurie Dawn

Smiling Woman

Ben Sloane

Dude #2

Bryson Pitts

Rockwell Son (uncredited)

Jessica Minhas

Older Asha Bhatnagar

Norman Aaronson

KFC Patron (uncredited)

Nancy Rubel

Townswoman (uncredited)

Crew

Frank Lotito

Director

Josh Rathmell

Editor

Anjul Nigam

Screenplay

Gregory Scott Houghton

Writer

Anjul Nigam

Writer

Paul Quinn

Writer

Sam Lisenco

Production Design

Thomas Scott Stanton

Director of Photography

Michael Lira

Music

Steven Grisé

Art Direction

Kirsten Thorson

Set Decoration

Mirren Gordon-Crozier

Costume Design

Jackie Risotto

Makeup Department Head

Emily Nowacki

Key Makeup Artist

Michael S. Chandler

First Assistant Director

Alex Schwerin

Second Assistant Director

Joe Accurso

Co-Executive Producer

Michelle Cameron

Co-Producer

Dan Coplan

Co-Producer

Maria DeAngelis

Associate Producer

Scott Donley

Executive Producer

Aaron L. Gilbert

Executive Producer

Shelley Herbst Morley

Associate Producer

Aldo LaPietra

Co-Producer

Frank Lotito

Producer

Patrick Murray

Co-Executive Producer

Anjalika Mathur Nigam

Co-Producer

Anjul Nigam

Producer

Paul Quinn

Executive Producer

Jonathan Rosen

Co-Producer

Jonathan Rosen

Co-Producer

J.D. Seraphine

Co-Producer

Leonard Shapiro

Co-Executive Producer

Raub Shapiro

Co-Producer

Steve Straka

Producer

Steven Thibault

Co-Executive Producer

Andrew Troy

Associate Producer

Seayoon Jeong

Associate Producer

Winson Ho

Executive Producer

Sabrina Lantos

Still Photographer

Josh Batista

Best Boy Electric

Tyler Chong

Key Grip

Ethan June

Best Boy Grip

Justin Kemper

Gaffer

John Kersten

Digital Imaging Technician

Shabier Kirchner

Third Assistant Camera

Gilbert Nogalski

Grip

Thomas Scott Stanton

Camera Operator

Kevin Edward Steen

Second Assistant Camera

Mikey Van Beuren

First Assistant Camera

Michael S. Chandler

Stunts

Kate Bilinski

Foley Artist

George Dellinger

Sound Editor

Tom Efinger

ADR Editor

Jorge García Bastidas

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Diana Sagristá

Sound Designer

Diana Sagristá

Sound Mixer

Chris Schneider

Boom Operator

Jeff Seelye

Sound Mixer

Tammy Gibbens

Costume Supervisor

Mel Kier

Assistant Costume Designer

Amira-Sade Moodie

Costume Assistant

Jillian Fisher

Location Scout

Jon Mooney

Music Supervisor

Erika Sanz Corbacho

Script Supervisor

Lisa Walker England

Script Supervisor

Hallie Bulleit

Choreographer

Shanna Maurizi

Colorist

Meredith King

Production Coordinator

Adam Peryer

Assistant Production Coordinator

Katy Porter

Property Master

Reviews

Reno

⭐ 7/10

February 4, 2018

**The first crush.**

The film was completed back in the T15, but it only released recently. Another Hollywood's Indian connection theme. This is about an Indian family living is the United States. Everything was told from a young boy's viewpoint. Growing up in a traditional Indian house, daily facing the western society, his struggle on caught between two cultures were shown to us as a hilarious life adventure.

I have been waiting for this film, at some stage I had forgotten its existence. When I came across an old trailer I've had saved in my hard drive, immediately I started to stream the film. It does not have big stars nor the big budget. It was a simple comedy about the culture collision. So there's no reason to expect it to surprise me. I enjoyed just as the way it was.

The original title was 'Good Ol' Boy', upon release, it was renamed. Both the titles justifies on what the film had narrated. It was a 70s tale, a little Indian family in the United States is almost living the American dream had to face the cultural differences. A young boy from the family named Smith is obedient to his parents, but when love bug bites him, all are going to change forever.

When a most famous family in their neighbourhood becomes close to them, kids from both the families develops a think friendship that goes all the way from their homes to the school. But it was more than a friendship for them. As the days of months of cultural exchange between them while their parents struggling to get along, finally, what brings the twist in the tale takes us straight to the finale.

> -xX] There she was, a touch of heaven a mere 30 yards from me, yet a heaven unreachable. [Xx-

The story was a flashback. The old Smith recalls his childhood memory, particularly his first crush. The cross culture narratives are really fun, especially when they highlight the outcome. Because the outcome is not same for everybody, but how they make it for their comfort. It was a typical Indian parenting. But the kids wanted to experience the real America. Just like the Oscar nominated animated short 'Sanjay's Super Team'.

I think the writing was good, that included writers from both the cultures. Yet there were some scenes, too offendable, if you are an Indian. Because Indians easily offend for everything. Since it was a comedy flick, those things do not mean anything so seriously. It was just a way to make it very funnier, but the things became sillier. That's a traditional way of making a Hollywood comedy. If you are familiar with that, you will get it. But they have pushed it hard, yet the film was not harmed with boring cliches.

From the picture colour tone to everything, takes us to the 70s, like it was made 30-40 years ago. Nice casting too. Particularly the boy. And not to forget his father as well who might have been a supporting character, but a show stealer. Jason Lee too had a decent role and so the rest of them. A feature film directional debut for the filmmaker and he was not bad at all. He should only get better from here on.

It is entertaining. A good timepass film, a good weekend film to watch with family and friends. It was a nice comedy that's gone unnoticed for several reasons which are common for such small titles. But in this digitally streaming world at your finger tip, that's should not happen. If you are reading this, then I say try it. Of course it was not a great film, but one of the best films of the year. The critics say it was a nice film and so those small chunks of people who saw it also thumb upped. Now it's your turn to join them or go against than totally ignore it!

_7/10_

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Status

Released

Original Language

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Growing Up Smith (2017)

Anjul Nigam, Gregory Scott Houghton, Anjul Nigam, Paul Quinn

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Reno

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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