Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

anhedonia It's truly a shame that a charming little romantic-comedy such as "Shades of Ray" does not get a distribution deal, but rubbish rom-coms - "Made of Honor" (2008), "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), "My Best Friend's Girl" (2008) and "My Life In Ruins" (2009) - do.Writer-director Jaffar Mahmood is playing well within the conventions of the genre. But what makes his film work is that he doesn't rely on stock characters. Even when he has a stock character or two - such as the protagonist's controlling father, Javaid Rehman (Brian George), or the wacky roommate, Sal Garfinkle (Fran Kranz) - Mahmood tweaks their personalities just enough that they seem fresher than they otherwise might be.I realize there are no Renée Zellwegers, Ashton Kutchers or Cameron Diazes in this film to make it sell to a wider audience. But the lack of such actors is what makes this film all the more appealing.Films about southeast Asian families and the vagaries of growing up in one are terribly rare and Mahmood should be commended for taking a whack at the subject matter.Despite tackling issues such as parental control, tradition, familial obligations and love, Mahmood makes his film work because his characters seem new and rather unconventional, even though many of them are just that.The film is helped immensely by terrific performances all around. I have not seen the TV series, "Chuck," so I was unfamiliar with Zachary Levi as an actor. He makes Ray Rehman an entirely believable person, even managing to bring a sense pathos to a rather funny audition scene.Kathy Baker and George are terrific as Ray's parents. Baker, especially, gives her role such substance that she takes a minor bit and makes it much more than that. And, finally, it's wonderful to see the lovely Sarah Shahi given a role with some meat and bones on it. I have seen two other films recently in which she was never used to her full potential - "AmericanEast" (2007), in which she has a superfluous role, and "Crossing Over" (2009), in which she was purely window-dressing. In "Shades of Ray," Shahi gets a juicy role that allows her to be alluring, lovable and provocative. She has a sensational scene in a bar where she turns into a playful vixen that is thoroughly enticing.One character who feels short-changed is Noel Wilson (Bonnie Somerville). In fairness to Mahmood, he resists the temptation to turn her into a bad person, though, given the trappings of the genre, in one scene, he gives her dialogue that seems completely out of character."Shades of Ray" does not turn the romantic-comedy genre on its head or anything of that ilk. It's a pleasant diversion and explores a side of American society rarely seen in Hollywood movies. It's most definitely a far cry better and more enjoyable than the romantic comedies Hollywood studios chuck out by the dozen.

lulubleu-2 I quite enjoyed this film. I saw it at the Ausitn Film Festival and it was one of the best we saw. There was a Q&A that followed that had the writer/director Jaffe and many of the cast. Listening to them speak really made it clear why this film was so good. Zach Levi was wonderful and really did do a great performance. I like the relationship between the family members, it felt real. I really hope this film finds distribution because it truly deserves a shot. It's a beautiful story of family and finding one's own way through life. Jaffe wrote a script that was very heartfelt and honest. Good luck to him and I hope we get to see more of his work. Well done.

nlj79 While the main character is biracial, you don't need to be of mixed race to enjoy this movie. It has a very "Big Fat Greek Wedding" characteristic in that the plot/characters/story speak to most (if not all) audiences, not only those that may be of the same ethnic/racial background(s) as the main character.Race plays an important role in the movie, but don't think this movie is only about race. It is also about discovering that often times what we think is true is not, for better or for worse. More importantly, however, is what the character does after recognizing the falsity of some of his assumptions/beliefs.I recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a romantic comedy that doesn't follow the typical and banal plot lines of most Hollywood stuff. The movie is all the more impressive given it is the director's first feature-length film.

irvkelson Shades of Ray is an outstanding film. Extremely well written and directed; and the acting by all the performers was top notch. It was very funny and at the same time it gave us the "warm fuzzies" all over. Although there is a definite ethnic slant, this movie could have been about any first generation immigrants trying to find there way in America. In many ways it also portrays typical family values of Americans across the country.This film is a breath of fresh air compared to the gratuitously violent and sophomoric films that Hollywood has foisted on us for all too long. We want to see many more films written and directed by Jaffar Mahmood. He is a great, young talent.