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Growing Up Smith

PG-13 Released Feb 3, 2017 1h 42m Comedy Drama TRAILER for Growing Up Smith: Trailer 1 List
73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 81% Audience Score 250+ Ratings
In 1970s suburban America, all 10-year-old Smith (Roni Akurati) wants to do is watch "Happy Days," play with his "Star Wars" figurines, and hang out with the girl-next-door. But things are not that easy when he has to deal with his overbearing father (Anjul Nigam) pushing his Indian heritage on him every second of every day. Read More Read Less
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Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times A strained cross between broad, culture-clash comedy and wistful coming-of-age tale, "Growing Up Smith" is a well-intentioned fizzle that misses what should have been an easily reachable mark. Feb 9, 2017 Full Review John DeFore Hollywood Reporter A crowd-friendly immigrant's tale painted with a thick coat of '70s nostalgia. Feb 3, 2017 Full Review Neil Genzlinger New York Times The film has accidental topicality now with the debate over immigration swirling, but you don't need to burden it with politics to be touched by its tale of a child who is pulled by two very different cultural worlds. Feb 2, 2017 Full Review Asia Frey Lagniappe (Mobile, AL) Flawed but not without its merits, including heart, humor and a look at the complex immigrant experience that hides a painful depth beneath its amusing surface. The film sneaks up on you with a family drama that is surprisingly unsparing. Aug 23, 2018 Full Review Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune The joys and pains of childhood are familiar across all cultures -- and, as the cloying comedy Growing Up Smith demonstrates, hackneyed variations on The Wonder Years also are universal. Rated: 2/4 May 4, 2017 Full Review Josh Terry Deseret News (Salt Lake City) Lee provides the kind of welcome down-to-earth good-old-boy charm he used in TV's My Name is Earl and Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous. Apr 28, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (27) audience reviews
isla s This is a fairly light watch. Its got some fairly amusing moments but I wouldn't say its a laugh out loud watch as such. Its of course about multiculturalism - getting by in a local community as an obvious outsider. I liked the female friend the main character had - Amy Brunner. Its a pleasant watch which is worth seeing, yes. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Josh B A mess of predictable and shallow generation gap and culture difference skits. Smith Bhatnagar coming-of-age is just a string of cliches, and you find yourself waiting for the next 'gag' hoping it might be better than the last. Poorly written and directed it seems to miss any tension or denouement, just putting along with the same shallow comedic tone. How did this garner any good reviews? Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/29/20 Full Review Audience Member Two mistakes found after watching for first 10 mins (still watching).. 1) $-Rs conversion rate in 1979 was around INR 20 not 65. 2) Bhatnagars are Kayastha who are hardcore meateater, so they have no problem eating animals. <majority of indians are meateater) Ending seems pretty abrupt. Overall this movie needed major rework on storyline to make it more interesting. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member What a refreshing and beautiful film. It takes me back to my own childhood, and reminds me just how different cultures can be either similar, or intolerant. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/03/18 Full Review Claude H We watched this last night. Great movie, funny and goofy but entertaining. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/21/18 Full Review Audience Member My family and I just happened upon this movie and ABSOLUTELY loved it!!! I am telling everyone to watch this sweet cultural coming of age story. We laughed and cried watching Growing Up Smith. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Growing Up Smith

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Growing Up Smith

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1970s suburban America, all 10-year-old Smith (Roni Akurati) wants to do is watch "Happy Days," play with his "Star Wars" figurines, and hang out with the girl-next-door. But things are not that easy when he has to deal with his overbearing father (Anjul Nigam) pushing his Indian heritage on him every second of every day.
Director
Frank Lotito
Producer
Steve Straka, Frank Lotito
Screenwriter
Gregory Scott Houghton, Anjul Nigam, Paul Quinn
Distributor
Good Deed Entertainment
Production Co
Good Deed Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Some Language|Brief Drug Use)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 3, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.9K
Runtime
1h 42m
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