Naz & Maalik

Synopsis:

Two closeted teens from Bed-Stuy, Naz & Maalik, both black and Muslim, hawk goods across Brooklyn and struggle to come clean about their sexuality. The two of them unwittingly find themselves in the crosshairs of the War on Terror when surveillance footage of their secret behavior is wildly misinterpreted in this smart indie comedy.

Quick Thoughts:

I’m mixed on how to receive “Naz & Maalik”. Even though there are some interesting snippets of philosophical and religious discourse between the two boys, there were plenty of times that I was simple bored. The casual, laid back style of the film unfortunately aided to my boredom. And a comedy? I must’ve completely missed the comedic parts! Equally I must have missed the suspense and drama from the plot about the boys’ “secret behavior” – which is not so much a puzzlement of suspicious actions that turn out to be innocent (they’re two gay Muslim boys in the closet, after all!), but rather a xenophobic FBI agent on the hunt trying to find terrorism activity where there is none. The slight bit of dramatic irony was overshadowed by how pissed off I was that that was the conflict angle the writers went with. But what made me more upset was the ending – there is none! Even from the vantage of trying to better understand young gay Muslim boys, I wouldn’t waste your time watching this queer adventure film. It’s simply not adventurous – or captivating.