This summer, I've been obsessing over Mindy Kaling's television adaptation of the 1994 rom-com, Four Weddings and a Funeral. Now, for the sake of transparency, I feel obligated to admit that I haven't seen the Hugh Grant classic, and frankly, if Mindy's name wasn't on the project, I wonder if I would have ever tuned in…but I'm certainly glad I did.
Critiques of the Hulu miniseries have been mixed, many noting the messiness of the plot and morally ambiguous characters. My response: isn't that the point? I think there's something very refreshing about Mindy's homage to real life.
Likeability isn't always clearly measurable in fleeting introductions, certainly not in reality. As such, there's something to be said of the inherent characterization complications of leading roles, Maya and Kash. To all who have been religiously tuning in every Wednesday, you know I'm talking about their slow-to-bud romance amidst arduous love triangles, career-oriented political tensions, and of course, awkward game nights
This show represents all the beautiful complexities of adult relationships. Exploring all the avenues – from heartbreak, to betrayal, to reality-show fame, etc. – Kaling's series allows for more honest communication about the components of a rom-com, but (thankfully!) without compromising any of those elements that we know and love: the meet-cute, the cheesy romance montage, the grand gesture(s), the list goes on. Four Weddings and a Funeral portrays romantic fiction in a way that is familiar, but still unexpected and therefore refreshing, and it's all done to the tune of a phenomenal soundtrack, I might add. (Lily Moore's cover of Heart of Glass has been on replay in my apartment for weeks.)
Finally, we can't talk about Four Weddings without applauding its representation. Black and brown actors not as the eccentric sidekicks, but leading roles is refreshing, yes, but this remedy is also almost frustrating in its reminder of how uncommon this kind of diversity is in pop culture. Finally, we get a glimpse of romantic fiction with the emphasis on the romance and not the fiction. Now, a believable, diverse cast accompanies an intricate plot, and the result is inspiring.
I hope we will one day look back on the current moment – Mindy Kaling's Four Weddings and a Funeral, in particular – and note how this was the beginning of a major change in the industry: a push for representation and a push for cultural change.
Add that to the list of reasons I'll be tuning into the season finale tomorrow on Hulu! I hope you'll join me (and let me know what you think!).
