When Youssef marries Sahar, this is only what he knows about her: a widow with a child.
Suddenly, however, he discovers that Saharstore a lot of information about her past away: her ex-husband is still alive, a criminal who re-emerges to ruin her new life.
This is the simple plot of the new Egyptian movie X-Meraty (Arabic for My Wife’s ex-Husband).
The film is directed by Moataz al-Tuni and written by Ahmed Abdel Wahab and KarimSamy. It contains a great portion of comedy and light situations.
The story of the film revolves around Youssef, played by actor Hisham Maged, a rich high-class psychiatrist who works as a prison consultant.
Youssef files regular reports about the psychological conditions of convicted criminals.
One day, he meets Taha al-Agouz, played by actor Mohamed Mamdouh, a dangerous gangster.
Youssef recommends in his report about al-Agouz that he be released. The consultant and the dangerous gangster then become friends, even not close ones.
To his utter shock, Youssef then finds out that al-Agouz was Sahar’s ex-husband.
Now out of jail, al-Agouz starts his search for his ex-wife, Sahar, played by actress AminaKhalil, to take revenge on the man she married after he entered the prison.
Little does al-Agouz imagine that the man he seeks to annihilate is none but Youssef, the prison consultant who sets him free.
This causes comedy throughout the film where encounters between the two never fail to make viewers laugh.
The clear contrast between the two characters also makes the film vivid and light. On one side, we have a well-educated psychologist who unwillingly becomes friends with a thug who happens to be his wife’s ex-husband and the father of her child.
On the other, we have an outlaw full of vengeful feelings, who does not know that the polite consultant who gets him from behind bars is the very man he searches for to kill.
Sahar, featured as a successful businesswoman,is originally a low-class woman who made a perfect match with this bandit in the past.
She also succeeds in putting a line through her past and marries Youssef.
One of the good comedy scenes in the film is when Youssef, his wife and her ex-husband have to spend some time in one house, giving rise to hilarious situations.
The film’s director succeeds in blending images;music; effects, and montage to create a light and enjoyable work.
X Meraty does not feature cartoonish characters and light contradictions, but digs deep into each of its characters. Each of these characters has purpose and a wound that needs to heal.
Youssef, for example, is a good person, polite and well-educated, but deep under these merits, he hides a wide range of demerits, including his cowardice and negativity.
He cannot immediately face al-Agouz and tell him the truth that he is his ex-wife’s current husband.
Al-Agouz also appears rude, violent and criminal, but he is courageous and can take responsibility.
This shows that each of the two characters – Youssef and al-Agouz – has what the other lacks.
This makes the conflict between them more concrete and the events more enjoyable and not just comedy sketches.
Acting by the two protagonists, Maged andMamdouh, is powerful.
Mamdouh is able to show the different aspects of his character: a thug, an evil person and anemotional father. Maged also acts with simplicity and spontaneity.
The movie offers good comedy and makes viewers laugh consistently with clever humour, relatable situations, and memorable characters.
It has a well-paced plot and a witty dialogue, which qualifies it to be one of the best comedy movies for this year. It is also family-friendly, leaving viewers feeling entertained and uplifted.
