I’ve always believed that a soulmate can come in many forms. Whether romantic or platonic, when a special person enters your life and awakens a part of you that has been dormant for some time, it’s a beautiful thing. In filmmaker Kahlil Maskati’s rom-com Do I Shock U Like Lightning, this inspiring connection comes in the form of a creative resurgence between two artists looking for acceptance. Fans of 500 Days of Summer and John Carney films like Once will instantly fall in love with this indie’s music and message.

A Tender Display of the Power of Music

Wardy (Omar Maskati) is a struggling singer-songwriter who is ready to pack it in. His career in Los Angeles hasn’t taken off the way he hoped. Instead of performing on the city’s biggest stages, he plays free concerts in the park outside of his apartment. Not exactly the Hollywood dream. That’s why his bags are packed for his imminent move back to his hometown in New Jersey. Call it fate, call it coincidence, but it’s at this pivotal moment when he meets Ellie (Malia Aiello), a ukulele-playing singer-songwriter who will soon light Wardy’s creative spark again. Wardy and Ellie become fast friends, bonding over their shared love of music.

Watch the Do I Shock U Like Lightning trailer here.

One afternoon, Ellie invites Wardy to help with a song she is stuck on. She brings out her ukulele and strums the four-chord melody, sharing beautiful lyrics about falling in love and keeping the spark alive. The chorus of her song, “Do I Shock U Like Lightning”, is a catchy pop singalong that catches Wardy off guard. Both he and Ellie feel that their platonic relationship is teetering on the edge of something more, and that scares them. It should be noted that Ellie has a boyfriend, and Wardy is still planning to move across the country. This flirtatious feeling they’re both experiencing causes a rift in their friendship. But an unexpected confession from Wardy and a tremendous display of encouragement from Ellie is enough to bring the duo back together again.

All Eyes on Actor Omar Maskati

Writer-director Kahlil Maskati crafts a heartfelt film about the healing and restorative power of music. There is truly nothing better than a four-chord harmony in C, and Do I Shock U Like Lightning has this in spades. Leading actor Omar Maskati does a wonderful job playing the charismatic struggling artist whose optimism is both inspiring and comical. His voice is angelic, even while singing lyrics like “New Jersey’s not an armpit”. Wardy may be that guy at the party who brings his acoustic guitar to play Wonderwall, but we still like him. Ellie is equally sweet with her soft demeanor playing nicely against Wardy’s more outgoing personality.

Takeaway

Do I Shock U Like Lightning is a bright and charming independent film that will have you humming along to its catchy earworms. There are some religious undertones during certain scenes that come from Ellie’s background but it does not feel like propaganda in any way. Full of musical montages and fun character hijinks, Do I Shock U Like Lightning is a feel-good rom-com that aims to leave a smile on your face.