From co-writer/co-star/producer Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act, Daily show), The best of the best is a love letter to Bollywood-inspired dance competitions, which Minhaj and co-writer Prashanth Venkataramugam attended as young South Asian college students, which Minhaj described as “a coming-of-age experience where their culture is not only celebrated, but also a special tribute to Bollywood dance” when speaking to Netflix About his inspiration for the film’s background.

Directed by Lena Khan (Flora and UlyssesThe story revolves around two close friends, Maya (I’ve never done that before It stars Maitri Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia), who have done everything together throughout their lives – including an infamous botched dance routine at a high school talent show that sent them viral in the worst way ever.

Hoping for a fresh start, the young duo set off for UCLA where they encounter the school’s nationally ranked Bollywood mixed dance team, led by the strikingly handsome and talented Raunak (Ankur Rathi), who leads them to a second-place finish in the The best of the best competition last year.

After Maya finally convinces Anjali to try out and inevitably form the team, the sister-like friends believe that the hardest thing for them to endure is the high level of competition and performing their best when the lights shine; However, even their friendship – the most cherished and most stable thing in their lives – can begin to fade in this new environment.

Like the UCLA Bollywood dance troupe, The best of the best They will have to give it their all if they want to stand out in a crowded field. It’s like we get some sort of competition-based movie (and potential franchise) every few years for a new group of tweens and teens to call their own. For my age level (older millenial/Gen X), it’s like a movie Save the last dance or Bring it. For the previous generation it was Dirty dancing. For the next generation, perhaps it was Escalation (Can you believe they made 6 of those movies?!) Or I served. Then the trio pitch perfect The films got a cappella in this act.

Now, in the past few years, Netflix has been wanting to get in on the action. 2018 Step sisters -A woman must teach sorority sisters how to dance in order to get into Harvard. 2020 Do it – Sabrina Carpenter must take a group of dancers to the top if she wants to go to the college of her dreams. 2020 Feel the rhythm – Sofia Carson plays a recently disgraced Broadway dancer who must teach a young group of girls from her small hometown how to dance in order to win a competition and bring their talents back into the spotlight. And these are just the ones I’ve covered or watched with my middle school-age daughter, not to mention the plethora of TV series covering similar territory.

So what does he do? The best of the best Do these movies not? Could it be the next film for young audiences who just want to find themselves through competitive artistic expression?

Well, if you want to know what’s best The best of the best (You had to do it), you pretty much get it in the first 45 minutes of this nearly two-hour movie. The “drone hit” moment that showcases Maya’s talents for attention-grabbing choreography, her penchant for impulsiveness, her willingness to drag her best friend into those big swinging efforts, and Anjali’s dedication and talent that helps bring those swings to life. The incredibly impressive first routine from UCLA’s Ronak crew to Diplo’s absolute hit “Welcome to the Party” in the SASA mixer. The cultural expectations, norms, and inside jokes of the South Asian student body and their families that permeate throughout the film really give the film a unique touchstone for their community. The philosophy of Bollywood is to “celebrate being extra because to be extra… is to be human” which creates an effective baseline for the story’s most extravagant and emotional moments. Perhaps the best scene in the film is an outdoor dance battle at a frat party involving A.J Weekend at Bernie’s A lively three-way action with a drunk man playing like a puppet. We were doing well at first with the humour, catchy dances and a more engaging level of fun.

While the film maintains a certain level of charm after this period, the story seems to shift towards a more dramatic approach that brings waves of new conflict between Maya and Anjali with much less energy, verve and excitement that marked the first half. Due to the constant tension, the film slows down, inflates its runtime, and ultimately lands in an oversimplified place of misunderstanding and acceptance of who they are as individuals as they grow into early adulthood.

But what keeps us engaged even after the verve dips is the casting, chemistry and well-defined roles of co-leads Ramakrishnan and Kedia. The long-standing friendship between their characters feels alive as each operates a different version of the shadow unwittingly cast by the other. Maya has to work harder to stand out more because of Anjali’s beauty and sweet personality that blends well with most people; Anjali realizes that she is simply existing in the stubborn path of a Type A Maya and not living a life she chose for herself. This inherent clash of friendship dynamics gives the audience a way into this world, even if it’s difficult to connect culturally if you’re not raised in the traditions and demands of a South Asian immigrant family. Ramakrishnan carries its momentum from I’ve never done that before To give more “bullet energy” and physicality than we have seen in the past; While Kedia’s classic and refreshing beauty inside and out makes her a logical choice for her role.

So, to answer the previously self-imposed questions of “What does (this film) do that (other) films don’t? And could it be the next breakthrough film for young audiences who just want to find themselves through competitive artistic expression?”, The best of the best It takes its lead from its creators and lead characters by simply showcasing their experiences and talents and making them relatable and entertaining enough to draw people into their story. You can tell how much care and thought went into the writing to put into perspective the joys and complexities of the South Asian experience in the United States and abroad. While it may not quite be a ‘rousing comedy’, its synopsis would like you to believe it is or is on the level of some of the popular competition-based films before them, The best of the best It could ultimately be an easy rewatch for a teen who’s still trying to figure out who to stick with. I’ll let you know when I watch this with my daughter soon.

---

He watches The best of the best If you like it

• Do it
• pitch perfect
• Bring it
• I’ve never done that before
• Feel the rhythm
• Step sisters

---

Best player from The best of the best

Maitri Ramakrishnan as Maya

She was known for her distinguished role in… I’ve never done that beforeRamakrishnan has earned a reputation for balancing comedic timing and physicality with strong emotional range and authenticity as an intelligent, sensitive woman in progress.

with The best of the bestShe is able to build on this while increasing the demands on her body and soul with a character who has an incredible amount of talent in the field of dance/choreography but also struggles to find harmony between her ambitions, her core relationships, and her responsibilities to others as well as to herself. Her way of embracing her character’s flaws makes her relatable to a wide audience regardless of subject matter or cultural background.

Netflix always finds a way to support its rising stars and reward them with opportunities to shine in other ways. Joey King, Lana Condor and Millie Bobby Brown could be the blueprint for Ramakrishnan’s next level and this film could be the first of several big moves for her and the studio.

---

Judgment

The dancing, costumes and choreography are off the charts The best of the best It stands out among Netflix’s many releases of dance-based competition films over the past several years I’ve never done that before Star Maitri Ramakrishnan confirms her great leadership energy. However, with its bloated runtime and notable dramatic turn in the second half, it may not have the goods to have the lasting impact that some of the more popular films of the genre have come before it.