I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Ray grew up in New Jersey, but moves away to Los Angeles.Ray is engaged to Noel, and asks her to marry her. She delays giving him an answer until after she comes back from a vacation with her parents.Ray's father moves in with him, and soon talks him into having dinner with Sana and her parents. Noel calls him and says yes.Ray continues seeing Sana. Oi. Ray's mother comes out. Noel comes by when Ray is working at the bar, and the parents are both at Ray's house. Sana stops by the bar and tries to seduce Ray in the men's room. What could possibly go wrong, and could it be fixed?Cinematography: 7/10 Usually competent, but often just barely.Sound: 8/10 Occasionally badly miked.Acting: 6/10 Good except for Fran Kranz. The other actors counterbalance his badness, but he's still obnoxious.Screenplay: 7/10 Moves along logically, except for the intervals that contain Fran Kranz.

I became a Zachary Levi fan in the now completed TV series "Chuck" where he played an undercover agent. Here he is Ray Rehman, son of a Pakastani father and a "white" mother. He grew up in New Jersey and never looked at himself as anything more than an American kid. But his dad always warned him against marriage (It is like having your testicles caught in a bear trap.) and also about marrying a "white" woman.But Ray grows up, graduates from college, and the story picks up 18 years later in the Los Angeles area. Ray's dad thinks he is an investment banker, but he is a bartender attempting to have an acting career. Mom knows what is going on, she accepts it.Ray proposes to his girlfriend, Bonnie Somerville as Noel Wilson . She is "white" and that worries dad, who shows up in California unannounced and proceeds to force Ray into "seeing" a daughter of a Pakistani friend. It works because Noel hadn't said 'yes' yet, so Ray didn't know if they would remain a couple. The new girl is Sarah Shahi as Sana Khaliq. They have an instant connection because both of them are 'mutts', with "white" mothers. Veteran actors Brian George as dad Javaid Rehman and Kathy Baker and mom Janet Rehman round out the family. Both are excellent. So the movie is about Ray, the "shades" of skin in his life. Will he marry the "white" girl or will be be swept away by the "mutt" who is perhaps the first person to actually relate to his situation?SPOILERS: There is some mandatory drama and comedy in a mix-up, but Noel agrees to marry him, and Sana goes to Mexico to do a school year teaching English. Ray decides Noel is not the one for him, he corresponds with Sana, and as the movie ends she shows up, on a break, with a big sombrero for Ray, it looks like they are on their way to bonding.

Shades of Ray is a great date movie! This movie is a fresh romantic comedy with an original twist. Contains several laugh out loud moments - was pleased that the rest of the crowd was laughing just as hard. Wonderful main cast (Chuck from the show Chuck and Dani Reese from the show Life, Brian George from Seinfeld and Kathy Baker from Picket Fences) as well as a plethora of outstanding cameos (Rex Lee from Entourage and Phil Rosenthal of Everybody Loves Raymond fame, among many others). Well paced (no slow scenes that drag on) and clearly thought through score (several clever choices that reiterate the tone and plot). Outstanding directing. Can't believe it hasn't been released on the big screen yet!

Brilliant exploration of identity conflicts of new generation Americans of mixed ethnicity; Perfectly portrayed by Zachary Levi as son of a Pakistani immigrant father and Caucasian catholic American mother; Timely, since our president-elect Barack Obama (product of mixed ethnicity) went through identity crisis in his early life; Insightful in portraying struggles of first generation immigrants - in this case, a Pakistani father (masterfully played by Brian George) who after 35 years of blissful living in America is still struggling with his early values.Jaffar Mahmood as writer/director has done an excellent job in casting where all the characters are able to convey the multitude of human emotions - Love, joy, desires, hopes, conflicts- in such an effortless manner as if they are really living through it all. Congratulations Jaffar for being able to achieve this caliber of movie as your first venture on shoestring budget. I hope some insightful distributor will have the "audacity" of showing this movie to American audience at large.