The Namesake is a definite "read-the-book" movie. Adapted from Jhumpa Lahiri's stunning novel, it trys desperately to embody the melacholy and hesitant hopefulness of her writing; which it does for the most part, occasionally falling far short of its mark.

Irfan Khan and Tabu star as the Ganguli couple, Ashoke and Ashima, aging gracefully from young, shy lovers into middle-aged traditionalists bewildered by the brash youth of American culture. They take the film step by step and year by year, offering a steady pace and through-line in a screenplay that otherwise cuts and jumps awkwardly and without flowing transition.

Kal Penn plays the title role as Gogol (Nick) Ganguli and surprised me with his emotional range, branching outward from his signature "Kumar" character. Throughout this story, Gogol struggles between embracing his roots, the history of his family and his name, and the American life he's become accustomed to: a fancy architect job, nice car, blonde girlfriend, and the easy-to-pronounce nickname "Nick." However, there were times when his performance left me wanting more. When expressing joy or sadness I was touched by his sincerity, moved by his heartache and the constant tug o' war of his heart. But whenever Gogol was angry (with his parents, his sister, his love interests), he became almost petulant. This was a welcome attribute when playing his 17-year-old self with long greasy hair playing air guitar to some '90s rock ballad, but uncomfortable and awkward to watch when trying to convince us he was a mature adult, living for years on his own, capable of emotional stability.

All things considered, I was originally a little let down by The Namesake, having been so deeply involved in the book from the moment I picked it up. The more I thought about it however, the more credit it deserves: the story spans years and years, almost an entire generation and keeping an audience invested that long can be tricky. Worth renting, probably best to see it by yourself--Not with your parents.