This documentary is nearly twenty years old now, and it follows a gay couple as they navigate the stressful and exciting journey of their first pregnancy through surrogacy. You get to see it all— the hope, the nerves, and the dramatic hurdles they have to clear along the way. Back in the day, this was probably a massive deal, but since I’ve known a few gay couples who’ve gone through this exact process, some parts felt a bit dated to me. I liked bits and pieces of it, but I also felt like the film stays pretty surface-level. It doesn't really dive into the deep, complicated reality of life after the baby actually arrives. If only raising a kid were actually as simple as this movie makes it look! Erik and Mark have been together in New York for ten years, and since they feel solid in their relationship, they decide they’re ready to raise a child. They start the hunt for a surrogate and eventually connect with Wen, a wife and mom from Maine who agrees to carry the baby for a standard...
It's hard to explain what Juice is about. Jamma works in a marketing agency, where he uses his clown personality, a childlike humor, a person who doesn't want to grow up to his advantage. To the opposite his boyfriend is Guy, a therapist, more mature than him and who wants something more stable. Jamma has moved in with him but hasn't unpacked anything at all. The contrast is evident and nicely done but with loads of chemistry. Then we have his mother Farida who runs a center for immigrants family and she is even more eccentric than the son. We do get see some tender moments when Farida tells her son about her past and love for another woman. Apparently Actress playing Farida is his real life mom. The family casting continues with Rizwan’s real brother Nabhaan playing Jamma’s sibling Isaac, who threatens to upstage him at work. With its breezy 20 minute episode format, the show, through constant humour, show s us about trials in Jamma's life, his parents life, his friends, brother and most importantly how him and Guy are going to navigate through their relationship being so different that they are from one another.
I have to say that by the end of first episode, I wasn't sure where this is going or whether this is my cup of tea. It's hard to explain, but the direction and humor style is something completely different from whatever I have seen before, so I have to give kudos of novelty. But right from second episode, I was all in. The way it handles themes of love, relationship, ex, family, workplace, immigration is very innovative yet light hearted and fun. It is a very imaginative show where distinctive trippy visuals fill your screen throughout. The scenes effortlessly merge with one another and there are meta references whenever anything is happening. For example When Guy says “I love you” in a clothes shop fitting room – something Jamma clearly finds overwhelming – we see the walls literally closing in on them. When they bang in a pub toilet cubicle, a burst of confetti fills the screen at Jamma’s moment of climax or Jamma’s need to “unpack” his issues is represented by a series of cardboard boxes clogging up his flat that shake about, like they’re about to explode. I do feel though that binge watching the show may not be the right way to enjoy this. Somehow small dozes might be a better way of watching it. But despite that thankfully the show doesn't overstay its welcome and wraps it all up nicely in just 6 episodes. In many ways, it’s a love letter to slapstick comedy rendered in the millennial vernacular, a cheerful expression of the lead actor/creator's unique comic sensibilities. Juice has plenty of zest (not to forget naked butt-cheeks dance). To see an immigrant family from Pakistan, succeed in showbiz in UK and create a show like it, makes me feel nice and proud. I am happy that the show was created and with its unique comic sensibilities and visual presentation style is getting all the attention it deserves. Oh! and did I say how handsome and gorgeous both the real life brothers are :) (7/10)
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