Review: ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?’ Probably a Lot

A shiny lesson in how one can pour nontraditional content material into a conventional rom-com mildew, Shekhar Kapur’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” shapes competing notions of happily-ever-after into consolation meals. And in case we’re unclear about its middle-of-the-road ambitions, Kapur additionally provides us a film-within-the-film whose title is “Love Contractually.” Accordingly, anybody who takes longer than 10 minutes to forecast the ending merely doesn’t get out of the home sufficient.

Moving between swish London places and a vibrant celebration in Lahore, Pakistan, the story facilities on Zoe (Lily James), an English documentary filmmaker, and her childhood buddy, Kazim (Shazad Latif), a British-Pakistani physician. She is a power right-swiper on disappointing males; he considers love at first sight a psychological well being situation and has opted for an organized marriage to a shy Pakistani magnificence (a splendidly nimble Sajal Ali). Kazim’s journey to the altar, Zoe decides, will make an ideal matter for her new documentary.

Written by Jemima Khan, channeling a few of her personal experiences as the previous spouse of a Pakistani prime minister, “What’s Love” bundles its perky-sweet story in Kapur’s signature visible sumptuousness (courtesy of the cinematographer Remi Adefarasin). Bland conversations about love and longing, and a largely sunny tone, neuter potential battle in a film that neither promotes nor disparages organized marriage. Sadly, its most divisive function is a grating flip by Emma Thompson as Zoe’s attention-hogging mom, whose conduct is commonly embarrassing and normally inappropriate.

By distinction, the beautiful Shabana Azmi provides Kazim’s mom a droll, figuring out dignity. “Not too dark,” she warns, instructing a matchmaker on her daughter-in-law preferences. Apparently the filmmakers made the identical selection.

What’s Love Got to Do With it?
Rated PG-13. No intercourse, they’re British. Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes. In theaters.