Watching Polite Society made me feel how my parents probably feel when I make them watch a Marvel movie. They enjoy the flick but they are inherently watching a different movie than me. Or it’s like what I felt like when I watched season three of the Mandalorian having not watched 10-15 key episodes of the Clone Wars (and Rebels) tv show. Which isn’t to say I disliked Polite Society, but it does mean other people were getting a lot more out of it.

The flick is about a high school girl who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman… and who actively works to sabotage her sister’s new relationship. These two interests collide when it becomes clear the new boyfriend and his mom are up to no good.

Reciting the plot synopsis doesn’t really nail what the film is actually about. This film is (I think) a clever satire of Bollywood action films… a genre I’m not all that familiar with. But I get that vibe each time an unfamiliar Bollywood-style needle drop hits or when straight-faced wedding-theme action scenes break out. The movie is winking at the camera but all the actors are taking it seriously.

For awhile I was wondering if all the action was in the main character’s head. Certainly no action film or even action comedy would drop a fight scene between a teenager and her sister’s boyfriend’s mom would it? It took me a bit to realize, no, that was part of the unstated comedy. The film is full of obvious – and very funny – humor, but there’s an overarching layer of unstated satire. Pretty badass satire as it turns out.

So I enjoyed this film, I just feel like I was missing out on the best bits due to my lack of cultural awareness. And yet I totally recommend it to most anyone. It’s a genuinely funny and exciting film… but some people will get a lot more out of it.

Score: 81