While he respects his immigrant parents (Irfan Khan and Tabu) and their decision to rear him in his United States birthplace, Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is torn between Indian traditions and the modern Bostonian lifestyle.

The Namesake is a family film but different as well in that fact that it's about a married couple that moved to the U.S. in order to live a better life but find in very hard adapted to their new surroundings as well as raising two children. The film is about family but it's also about love and finding your identity while finding to stay true to your own traditions. The cast is terrific, those of you might find it hard to see actor Kal Penn in a dramatic role as a a confused, vulnerable, and multi-layered young man but he shines in this role and proves to everyone he's more than just a comic actor. This is both a visual and lyrical treat filled with both beautiful cinematography and terrific dialogue that together make this a film that warms the heart and teaching us all some very good family lessons. If your looking for an action film look elsewhere but if your looking for a film that teaches as well as entertains and has a wonderful cast to pull it off with then this is on film that you must see. In a time when most of what goes to theaters is pure junk it's nice to find a film as intelligent as this one. Released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. **** Out Of *****