Netflix has recently released yet another romance film. The brand new film, Definition Please, develops around an Indian American woman who has won the Scripps National Spelling Bee fifteen years ago. Written and directed by Sujata Day, and produced by Ava DuVernay, the movie gives the audience an Indian touch, with a story of suffering, volatile relationships, and rebuilding those relationships steadily.
Is this a movie yay or nay? Let’s find out.
Definition Please plot
The plot of Definition Please develops around Monica, played by Sujata Day, a former champion of Spelling Bee, stuck in her regular life. But, she never lived to her winner status. She was smart enough to bag a clinical research position. However, she returns to her hometown to take care of her mother Jaya, played by Anna Khaja, and tutor hundreds of students from her hometown who hope to win the spelling champions.
So, why is a former Spelling Bee champion stuck in a small town of Greensburg, Pennsylvania? Definition Please answers this question and more while taking you on a journey of healing.
In conversation with NBC about her latest film, Day explains, “I really wanted to start a conversation. There is always chatter of successes, whether it was a second master’s degree or med school or a Wall Street job. No one talked about their failures, stresses, second chances, or even therapy.”
When did the movie release?
Definition Please had already premiered at the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival. However, the movie reached Netflix on January 21st, 2022.
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Definition Please cast
Sujata Day plays the role of Monica Chowdry in the film. The other cast includes:
- Ritesh Rajan as Sonny
- Jake Choi as Richie
- Anna Khaja as Jaya
- Lalaine as Krista
- LeVar Burton as himself
- Katrina Bowden as Crystal Cane
- Eugene Byrd as Wayland Pines
- Parvesh Cheena as Jimit Uncle
- Sonal Shah as Dr. Ali
- Tim Chiou as Dr. Chiou
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn about a dozen new words. https://t.co/5IeV8R6wpn
— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) January 21, 2022
Critic reviews and fan reactions
The film scored a rating of 6.2 on IMDb and100% from critics and 83% on audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Moreover, the movie received positive reviews from critics and viewers.
For instance, Kimber Myers from the Los Angeles Times says about the film, “[Sujata] Day has something as both an actress and a filmmaker … her script sparks to life at times, and as a director, she shows a unique style …”.
Beandrea July from The Hollywood Reporter said, “With its indie verve, raucous female gaze, comedic through-line and references to Indian cinema traditions, Definition Please sets out to accomplish a lot in terms of style and substance.”
If you're looking for a really good movie to stream on Netflix, @sujataday's DEFINITION PLEASE debuts there tomorrow. It's a charmer with laughs and real substance. Watch it!
My review: https://t.co/iwCcwi2kvW pic.twitter.com/P4RyOcLQJP
— Mike McGranaghan (@AisleSeat) January 20, 2022
Fans, too, loved the movie for all the feels it gave them and how the Netflix flick treated mental health. Here’s what the Twitterati have to say about Definition Please
Tell me why #DefinitionPlease is my life story holy shit seeing such a niche Bengali diaspora experience being portrayed in the west just brought a tear to my eye @sujataday @ava @ARRAYNow ❤️❤️
— munasib (@MunaHamid1) January 23, 2022
Can't remember the last time a character with BPD was treated with this much grace and empathy without discounting the experiences of the people that love them. #DefinitionPlease
— Suhashini Krishnan (@sushi_krish) January 22, 2022
So many beautiful moments in @sujataday’s #DefinitionPlease!
As a fmr elementary spelling bee winner who couldn’t hack it in district finals and never forgot the sting, the premise intrigued… but its humor and heart hooked me. Watch it now on Netflix via @ARRAYNow 💜 pic.twitter.com/SKzTRBXhPk
— jen yamato (@jenyamato) January 22, 2022
#DefinitionPlease captures the frustration, guilt, love, & all other complicated emotions that comes with informally caring for a loved one with mental illnesses—especially from a 1st gen American perspective.
— mēk-des/መቅደስ 🖤 (@mekdesehaile) January 22, 2022
I am really proud of how mental health was depicted in @DefnPlease. We should keep talking about mental illness, depression, anxiety, and stress. @teshrajan @sonalbshah @sujataday @DefnPlease @ARRAYNow #DefinitionPlease
— Parvesh Cheena 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️❤️🦓 (@Parvesh) January 22, 2022
Have you streamed Definition Please on Netflix yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
