add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
EmCare | Outsourced Physician Services | Search emcare.com |
This article is about the film. For the comedy album by Russell Peters, see Russell Peters: Outsourced.
Outsourced is a modern day comedy of cross-cultural conflict and romance film, directed by John Jeffcoat, released in 2006.
[edit] SynopsisWhen Todd Anderson's job and entire department is outsourced, he reluctantly goes to India to train his replacement. Arriving in India is a big culture shock for him, from catching a train to catching a taxi that turns out to be an auto rickshaw.To add to it everybody, including the employees and his landlady calls him "Mr. Toad", because of the pronunciation of his name. Through his team of quirky yet likable Indian call center workers — including his friendly and motivated replacement, Puro (Asif Basra), and the charming, opinionated Asha (Ayesha Dharker) — Todd soon realizes that he too has a lot to learn — not only about India and America but also about himself. One day he calls his ex-girlfriend in the US from a public telephone in Gharapuri only to find that she is with another man. Todd is depressed but, before long, discovers that being outsourced may be the best thing that ever happened to him. Todd's objective is to get the time it takes to complete calls down from twelve minutes to six. If his team doesn't achieve this, his boss won't let him go home. Another call center administrator tells him its hopeless, while eating at "MacDonells". He suggests that, instead of fighting it out, Todd should stop opposing it; his life in the process will become easy. The next day Todd gets caught in Holi, a celebration of colors. He initially tries to run away from the people throwing colors at him, but finally joins in the celebration. He is seen submerging in the village lake and then coming out of it emphasizing his acceptance of the culture. He also starts to give away leftover food to the poor people working next to the place he is staying at. One night, Todd congratulates his call center. He asks what they would like to make the call center a more positive experience. Workers ask to bring pictures and figurines from home. Workers also ask to get the products they're selling. Todd makes a deal that the worker with the greatest MPI will get to pick the product of his choice from the treasure box. He has the manufacturer send 100 products, much to the boss's disliking. When the boss calls to complain, Todd explains that there are a billion potential buyers in India who would love to buy the products. The boss responds by shipping the products overnight. The products are sent to another town and street with the same name. Todd and Asha go to retrieve the packages, by car and ferry. Todd asks the taxi statue of the goddess of destruction "Kali" to destroy something while they wait. The ferry coincidentally burns up. Todd and Asha are coerced to get a hotel room called the Kama Sutra Suite. They are uncomfortable at first but end up making love. When they return to work, Asha explains that she has been engaged since age four and asks him to maintain professional distance with her. Todd feels let down. Asha explains her friends' euphemism of a "holiday in Goa." She tells him she learn to love her future husband like her mother and father did with each other. To this Todd replies that he does not understand how the strong-willed Asha would settle for an arranged marriage. Asha responds that she doesn't understand the US's 50% divorce rate. Asha confesses to Todd that all her life she had to struggle for everything from education to work and always listen to her parents complain "You can't go to college" to "You can't go to school"; she was elated when Todd said "Asha can do anything" while explaining to Puro how to reduce the time per call. After this, Todd's boss, David, suddenly arrives. When he comes to check on the progress, which was previously just over five minutes per call, they find the call center flooded. Todd has the entire staff move to the roof. The aghast David thinks it is impossible but the enlightened Todd replies it may be impossible in the US but not in India. They succeed in getting good numbers. Before Todd goes off to celebrate at the local Lotus bar, he is told by David that the company will be outsourcing to China for a much cheaper price: All the employees have lost their jobs. The employees don't complain because, with severance pay, they are planning on getting other jobs. Puro, however, is disappointed because he won't get enough money to marry the woman of his dreams. David offers Todd a lucrative job at the new China call center. Todd gives this job to Puro, who happily marries with enough money and a great future. Todd returns to Seattle, where he starts picking up on the Indian traditions. Todd's phone rings with Asha's special ringtone. The last shot is of him smiling. [edit] ProductionPrincipal photography took place in Mumbai from 5 February to 13 March 2006, followed by three days in Seattle from 7-9 April 2006. The film is based on an original screenplay by George Wing and writing partner, John Jeffcoat. [edit] Awards
[edit] Television spinoffAccording to Variety, Ken Kwapis, of The Office, has reportedly been tapped by NBC to create a television pilot for a potential spinoff of Outsourced. [edit] ReferencesOutsourcing and related themes are explored in The Simpsons episode Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore. [edit] External links | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
