Outsourced (2007) - The movie

Directed by John Jeffcoat;
written by George Wing and Mr. Jeffcoat;
produced by Tom Gorai; .

WITH:

• Josh Hamilton (Todd Anderson),
  
• Ayesha Dharker (Asha),
  
• Larry Pine (Bob),
  
• Asif Basra (Purohit N.
  
• Virajnarianan) and
  
• Matt Smith (Dave).

This movie has been designated a Critic's Pick by the film reviewers of The Times.

September 28, 2007

Life Lessons in a Global Marketplace
"Outsourced," is a movie in which a Seattle call center manager named Todd (Josh Hamilton) is fired and then dispatched to India as a consultant to train his own replacement, is a wonderful surprise.

At first it threatens to be just another fish-out-of-water story. The film's director, John Jeffcoat, and his co-writer, George Wing, hit expected marks, from the moment when a street urchin swipes the hero's cellphone to the bit where Todd learns why Indians don't eat with their left hand to the scene where Todd realizes that his sharpest employee, an outspoken young woman named Asha (Ayesha Dharker), is gorgeous and has a crush on him.

Gratifyingly, though, the filmmakers treat Todd's story as a springboard for a smart look at the effect of cultural difference on work, friendship and love, and the global economy's impact on national and personal identity. Todd learns that change can be negative, positive or simply neutral, and what matters is how one reacts to it.
The film shows that individuals in every nation are nearly powerless before the global economy, a force that shatters tradition and compels people to think of themselves as self-interested free agents. This pragmatic point of view is articulated by Asha, who rhetorically asks Todd why it's necessary for Indian call-center workers to pose as Americans while selling cheap junk made in China.

The key to survival is adaptability, a quality demonstrated by every major character in "Outsourced" - particularly Todd, who adapts to his hosts' culture and language and makes them more invested in their jobs by rewarding efficiency gains with products from the company's catalog.

In its modest way, "Outsourced" may be unique: a charming culture-clash romance that could be taught in business schools.
"Outsourced" is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned) for some sexual content.

Rated 5/5
Reviewer: Frances Kazan