Amar, Akbar & Tony

This Netflix-aired British feature from writer-director Atul Malhotra follows the friendship of three Londoners of different ethnic origins: the Sikh Amar (Rez Kempton), the Indian Muslim Akbar (Sam Vincenti), and the Irish Catholic Tony (Martin Delaney). The two Indian men are burdened with the family-fueled expectations of their respective cultures—Amar moves away from his family's restaurant business to pursue a legal career, while Akbar has found a very lucrative niche in luxury real estate. Tony, however, is the bumbler of the trio, floundering in both his professional and romantic endeavors. The film initially seems to be aiming for light comedy, albeit with some less-than-subtle doses of ethnic and sexual humor, although some unexpected plot twists result in a harsh dramatic tone that feels like another film was grafted onto the screenplay. As a result, the story is frequently at odds with itself—ping-ponging between battle-of-the-sexes farce and pointed social commentary about London's multicultural population. The three leads do their best to turn on the charm, although Delaney shamelessly overplays his dum-dum role. Optional. (P. Hall)