Polite Society (2023)

Polite Society is the kind of movie that feels like a dare joyfully accepted: a coming-of-age comedy that suddenly snaps into crisp, exhilarating action, then pivots into something tender about family and freedom without losing its bounce. Nida Manzoor directs with a playful, genre-mashing confidence—part British teen mischief, part Bollywood sparkle—while the fight choreography lands with a satisfying thwack and a wink. Priya Kansara is a star in the making, selling Ria’s big-hearted stubbornness and scrappy physicality so completely you can’t help rooting for her, and the film’s humor comes from character and culture rather than cheap punchlines. If you prefer your dramas grounded and your comedies quiet, it may feel too exuberant, but if you’re on the fence, this is exactly the sort of inventive crowd-pleaser that reminds you movies can still surprise you.

Polite Society is aiming for a high-energy mash-up of teen coming-of-age, sisterhood drama, and Bollywood-flavored action-comedy, and when it clicks it’s genuinely lively and charming. The catch is the film’s tone can lurch from heartfelt to absurdly conspiratorial, and the story asks you to stay on the heroine’s side even when her choices feel irrational or needlessly disruptive. If you need your motivations grounded and your conflicts to build logically, you may find yourself more annoyed than entertained, especially once the plot goes fully heightened. Still, the central performances are game, the fight choreography has real snap, and if you’re happy to treat it like a stylized, slightly unhinged fairy tale about family expectations, it can be a fun ride.