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ComedyDramaFamily

Growing Up Smith

- It’s better to stand out than to fit in.

In 1979, an Indian family moves to America with hopes of living the American Dream. While their 10-year-old boy Smith falls head-over-heels for the girl next door, his desire to become a "good old boy" propels him further away from his family's ideals than ever before.

Release Date : 2017-02-03

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Good Deed Entertainment

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Roni Akurati

Character Name : Smith Bhatnagar

Original Name : Roni Akurati

Gender : Male

Brighton Sharbino

Character Name : Amy Brunner

Original Name : Brighton Sharbino

Gender : Female

Jason Lee

Character Name : Butch Brunner

Original Name : Jason Lee

Gender : Male

Anjul Nigam

Character Name : Bhaaskar Bhatnagar

Original Name : Anjul Nigam

Gender : Male

Hilarie Burton

Character Name : Nancy Brunner

Original Name : Hilarie Burton

Gender : Female

Poorna Jagannathan

Character Name : Nalini Bhatnagar

Original Name : Poorna Jagannathan

Gender : Female

Jake Busey

Character Name : Officer Dick

Original Name : Jake Busey

Gender : Male

Samrat Chakrabarti

Character Name : Older Smith Bhatnagar

Original Name : Samrat Chakrabarti

Gender : Male

Shoba Narayan

Character Name : Asha Bhatnagar

Original Name : Shoba Narayan

Gender : Male

Tim Guinee

Character Name : Officer Bob

Original Name : Tim Guinee

Gender : Male

Alison Wright

Character Name : Mrs. Reynolds

Original Name : Alison Wright

Gender : Female

Austin Harrod

Character Name : Billy MacNamara

Original Name : Austin Harrod

Gender : Male

James Hyland

Character Name : Stan Swanson

Original Name : James Hyland

Gender : Male

Jack Hyland

Character Name : Steve Swanson

Original Name : Jack Hyland

Gender : Male

Alice Callahan

Character Name : Older Amy Brunner

Original Name : Alice Callahan

Gender : Female

Randall McNeal

Character Name : Christian Man

Original Name : Randall McNeal

Gender : Male

Dan Coplan

Character Name : Paramedic Clemmons

Original Name : Dan Coplan

Gender : Male

David Aranovich

Character Name : Officer Randall

Original Name : David Aranovich

Gender : Male

Paul Castro Jr.

Character Name : Patrick

Original Name : Paul Castro Jr.

Gender : Male

Edward Prostak

Character Name : Middle-Aged Vampire

Original Name : Edward Prostak

Gender : Male

Deema Aitken

Character Name : Dude #1

Original Name : Deema Aitken

Gender : Male

Laurie Dawn

Character Name : Smiling Woman

Original Name : Laurie Dawn

Gender : Female

Ben Sloane

Character Name : Dude #2

Original Name : Ben Sloane

Gender : Male

Bryson Pitts

Character Name : Rockwell Son (uncredited)

Original Name : Bryson Pitts

Gender : Male

Jessica Minhas

Character Name : Older Asha Bhatnagar

Original Name : Jessica Minhas

Gender : Male

Reviews

R

Reno

@Rangan

2024-05-16

**The first crush.** The film was completed back in the T15, but it only released recently. Another Hollywood's Indian connection theme. This is about an Indian family living is the United States. Everything was told from a young boy's viewpoint. Growing up in a traditional Indian house, daily facing the western society, his struggle on caught between two cultures were shown to us as a hilarious life adventure. I have been waiting for this film, at some stage I had forgotten its existence. When I came across an old trailer I've had saved in my hard drive, immediately I started to stream the film. It does not have big stars nor the big budget. It was a simple comedy about the culture collision. So there's no reason to expect it to surprise me. I enjoyed just as the way it was. The original title was 'Good Ol' Boy', upon release, it was renamed. Both the titles justifies on what the film had narrated. It was a 70s tale, a little Indian family in the United States is almost living the American dream had to face the cultural differences. A young boy from the family named Smith is obedient to his parents, but when love bug bites him, all are going to change forever. When a most famous family in their neighbourhood becomes close to them, kids from both the families develops a think friendship that goes all the way from their homes to the school. But it was more than a friendship for them. As the days of months of cultural exchange between them while their parents struggling to get along, finally, what brings the twist in the tale takes us straight to the finale. > -xX] There she was, a touch of heaven a mere 30 yards from me, yet a heaven unreachable. [Xx- The story was a flashback. The old Smith recalls his childhood memory, particularly his first crush. The cross culture narratives are really fun, especially when they highlight the outcome. Because the outcome is not same for everybody, but how they make it for their comfort. It was a typical Indian parenting. But the kids wanted to experience the real America. Just like the Oscar nominated animated short 'Sanjay's Super Team'. I think the writing was good, that included writers from both the cultures. Yet there were some scenes, too offendable, if you are an Indian. Because Indians easily offend for everything. Since it was a comedy flick, those things do not mean anything so seriously. It was just a way to make it very funnier, but the things became sillier. That's a traditional way of making a Hollywood comedy. If you are familiar with that, you will get it. But they have pushed it hard, yet the film was not harmed with boring cliches. From the picture colour tone to everything, takes us to the 70s, like it was made 30-40 years ago. Nice casting too. Particularly the boy. And not to forget his father as well who might have been a supporting character, but a show stealer. Jason Lee too had a decent role and so the rest of them. A feature film directional debut for the filmmaker and he was not bad at all. He should only get better from here on. It is entertaining. A good timepass film, a good weekend film to watch with family and friends. It was a nice comedy that's gone unnoticed for several reasons which are common for such small titles. But in this digitally streaming world at your finger tip, that's should not happen. If you are reading this, then I say try it. Of course it was not a great film, but one of the best films of the year. The critics say it was a nice film and so those small chunks of people who saw it also thumb upped. Now it's your turn to join them or go against than totally ignore it! _7/10_