World’s Best Movie Review – There has recently been an upsurge in films and television depictions of middle school life, previously focused on high school years only. Filmmakers are exploring these often awkward yet often unpleasant experiences of adolescence in middle school as an avenue of drama and comedy; notable examples are “Eighth Grade” on Netflix and Hulu’s “Pen15”.
“World’s Best“ follows this trend by depicting awkward adolescent years with its family-friendly movie, which captures them effectively. The plot follows Prem Patel (portrayed with charm by Manny Magnus) as he prepares for the Mathlympics competition in modern New Jersey with help from Priya (Punam Patel), his single mother who provides more than typical motherly support – their bond extends far beyond typical parent-child relationships.
Priya tells Prem about her first meeting his late father, Suresh (Utkarsh Ambudkar – who co-wrote the screenplay), which shocks and charms him when it is revealed that Suresh had become an underground hip-hop legend during their time together – it leads to an incredible turn in “World’s Best,” where Suresh begins spending more time with Prem, nurturing his interest for rap music while strengthening their father-son bond further.
Priya becomes concerned when Prem’s passion for performing overshadows his dedication to math, so she becomes understandably angry when he enters a talent contest. Herein lies some similarities with superhero stories like those found in Marvel Cinematic Universe origin tales – much like many Marvel heroes struggled between parental expectations for their future and personal ambitions. At the same time, betrayals occurred between friends as alliances were broken and rival groups formed. Typical middle school drama then ensues.
Roshan Sethi’s skillful direction ensures “World’s Best” skillfully captures the ups and downs of adolescence, as the film draws audiences in with genuine emotions while smoothly merging comedy with dramatic developments. Utkarsh Ambudkar and Manny Magnus’ convincing portrayals as father and son make “World’s Best” an enjoyable watch, and their shared enthusiasm for musical performances makes their performance all the more engaging.
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