Rating of
2.5/4
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
lastonetoleave - wrote on 05/19/13
The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013) R Changez (Riz Ahmed) is a young Muslim Pakistani man who moves to New York to work in the world of high finance. Changez’s life is going well with a successful job, beautiful girlfriend (Kate Hudson), until 9/11 happens and the World Trade Center comes crashing down. Changez is called back to his home country. Now, he may have to choose between the country, that he loves, America, and his homeland. This is an intriguing film that shows how 9/11 affected not only people in the U.S. but around the world. Ahmed is an engaging actor and does a gripping performance of a man who’s beliefs are challenged on almost a daily basis, but I felt that he was much better than the script, which at times seemed a little amateurish. Kate Hudson does a fine job as Changez girlfriend in New York but the script makes her character seem unreal, like she is an amalgamation of a whole bunch of characters. This is a film that is earnest in its approach but just doesn’t quite find a suitable way to show the depths of its subject matter. My Rating: Bargain Matinee
