“Picture This”, the new Amazon Prime Video romantic comedy, is a wonderful addition to the genre.
The British movie, which is directed by Prarthana Mohan and is based on the 2024 Australian film “Five Blind Dates”, features a captivating cast, an enthralling storyline and unique infusions of quirky humour.
Set in London, it draws parallels to the 2002 hit movie “Bend It Like Beckham” as it also centres around a British-Indian family as they tackle themes of culture, tradition and the power of dreams.
“Picture This” stars Simone Ashley as Pia, a photographer who runs a struggling studio with her bestie, Jay (Luke Fetherston).
She is driven by her passion for the arts and even refuses to take ID pictures, considering it to be too impersonal a project.
Pia also has a soft heart and always tries to help struggling customers, even taking free pictures of the local girls' football teams.
She has big dreams and wants more than a conventional life. But as she fights to keep the doors of her photography studio open, Pia, who is months away from turning 30 and is still single, is thrust into the chaos of her younger sister Sonal’s (Anoushka Chadha) wedding festivities.
Coming from a Hindu family, this means a month full of wedding events and plenty of time for Pia’s overbearing mother Laxmi (Sindhu Vee) to pressure her into following in her sibling’s marriage footsteps.
Her loved ones constantly remind her that she is running out of time to have a family.
To make matters worse, her handsome and successful ex-boyfriend Charlie (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) is the best man, sending her into an emotional spiral. She hasn't been in a serious relationship since they split up over a decade ago and refuses to dip her toes back into the dating pool.
Meanwhile, during Sonal’s engagement party, Laxmi invites a spiritual leader to read her daughters' astrological charts. He tells Pia that one of the next five men she goes on a date with will be her soulmate.
As a pessimist, she doesn’t take his prediction seriously - this is until she sees Charlie showing up to the party with a date.
Pia then reluctantly decides to take her family up on their offer to set her up on dates. They agree that she will meet them during the month of the wedding festivities and that she must choose one of the men to bring with her to the wedding.
Despite her best efforts, they all end in chaos as she ends up dating a rude nepotism billionaire, a man who is in love with her mother and a free-spirited musician who gives her the ick when he insists that the earth is flat.
What ensues is Pia inadvertently trashing a luxury home, stabbing her date with an epi-pen and having an awkward make-out session.
As she attempts to survive the dates, plan her sister’s wedding and keep her business afloat, sparks are also flying between Pia and Charlie as the wedding functions bring them back into each other's lives.
This opens up many old and painful wounds as she is now forced to confront the pain from their break-up which has halted her dating life.
Tensions also mount as family dynamics and the stress of the wedding are placed in the forefront.
But during her quest for love, Pia discovers what she is looking for in a life partner and what kind of legacy she would like to leave.
“Picture This” is a charming production which comically delves into the multitude of struggles which modern women are currently facing.
From societal expectations to family pressures and the desire to build a career, these are sure to resonate with scores of viewers.
Apart from tackling serious topics, the movie also includes impactful moments of comedy which will keep you laughing and which also elevate the storyline.
One of the film’s other drawing points is its reflection of Indian culture and tradition, which as is also the case in real-life, comes to colourful life during a wedding.
From the many ceremonies, the decor, fashion, food and music, it offers an accurate depiction of how Hindus celebrate nuptials.
I also really enjoyed the chemistry between Pia and Charlie, while the rest of the cast also added a quirky flavour to the production.
The movie conveys a strong message about having the freedom to be yourself in a conformist world as well as the power of dreams.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Picture Perfect” and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an insightful yet funny romantic comedy to escape into.
Rating: 4/5 stars
∎ “Picture This” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.