Outsourced (2007)

74% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(4,723 ratings)

When the 32-year-old manager of a Seattle customer call center receives word that his entire Order Fulfillment department is about to be outsourced to India, his initial anger gives way to a newfound sense of wonder as he travels to Mumbai to train his replacement. Todd (Josh Hamilton) is facing… More When the 32-year-old manager of a Seattle customer call center receives word that his entire Order Fulfillment department is about to be outsourced to India, his initial anger gives way to a newfound sense of wonder as he travels to Mumbai to train his replacement. Todd (Josh Hamilton) is facing unemployment, but in the meantime he has accepted a temporary job to travel to India and ensure the company's transition is a smooth one. Though at first nonplussed by his unfamiliar new surroundings, Todd is subsequently disarmed by the friendliness of his likeable replacement, Puro (Asif Basra), and charmed by co-worker Asha's (Ayesha Dharker) offer to better familiarize the newcomer with the people and customs of India. As Todd begins to sow the seeds of productivity among his amiable new employees and gains the ability to look past their cultural differences, an overnight business trip that lands Todd and Asha together at a Kamasutra Hotel threatens to complicate the endeavor in ways that the outsourced American never anticipated. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: John Jeffcoat
Written By: George Wing, John Jeffcoat
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 28, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Sep 2, 2008
Studio: Shadow Catcher Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Susan Walker, Toronto Star
In the hands of a lesser director, the secondary characters, including Todd's matronly Indian landlady, might have been mere caricatures. Smart production design and camerawork enhance the sense of authenticity.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A frothy romantic comedy that makes a serious point about the arrogance of treating human beings from around the world as interchangeable economic units.
Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader
A sweet if predictable variation on the premise of the ugly American, redeemed by Hamiton's dry performance, some nice comic turns by the Indian supporting cast, and a droll script by Jeffcoat and George Wing.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Jeffcoat handles the ostensible cultural differences gingerly. The movie's approach to globalism is to play everything small and keep everybody human.
Mark Bourne, Film.com
...even if we aren't pumping our fists in the air, we're rooting for the characters with an agreeable 'namaste' vibe that feels earned rather than forced upon us.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
[A] smart and charming romantic comedy.
Kam Williams, TheLoop21.com
Engaging, unpredictable, hilarious and entertaining, this charming romantic romp offers all you could ever ask of a modern cross-cultural comedy, plus it paints a plausible picture of the logical consequences of sending so many jobs overseas.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
An indie crowd pleaser with a timely message, Outsourced is a kind of globalization lite romantic comedy, simultaneously touching on some fairly grim issues with a soft focus lens.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
An indie crowd pleaser with a timely message, Outsourced is a kind of globalization lite romantic comedy, simultaneously touching on some fairly grim issues with a soft focus lens.
Michele Kenner, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sending jobs overseas, a hot-button issue for some Americans, gets gentle, good-natured treatment in Outsourced.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
In cheese terms, it's pretty mild.
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Outsourced left me satisfied if not exactly charged up; this romantic, fish-out-of-water comedy is an effective piece of entertainment.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
No, it's not your meet-cute Reese Witherspoon/Kate Hudson rom-com, but if you're looking for a humble movie with a lot of genuine heart, Outsourced has more than enough to go around.
Drew Toal, Time Out New York
Picture Office Space, but shot in Mumbai and not funny.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A charming film about preconceptions, culture clash and love, Outsourced gives us a fresh perspective on overseas call centres.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Mixing astute cultural observation, character-driven comedy and a little romance, John Jeffcoat's Outsourced is a delightful look at how easily jobs can be cut and sent elsewhere.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
An indie charmer that may become the sleeper of Seattle.
Timothy Knight, Reel.com
A smart, low-key charmer.
Josh Rosenblatt, Austin Chronicle
Its head may be in the sand, but Outsourced is a good-spirited idyll, an escape from reality, naive to a fault, and all but unconcerned with the troubles of the world but almost - almost - convincing in its innocence.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Nicki M

Not bad. I liked the setting in India, although I have to admit, it doesn't make me want to go there! Not glamourous at all, although some of it is pretty. I have only seen one episode of the sit com based on it, so I can't really comment on if this is better or not (I… More
Not bad. I liked the setting in India, although I have to admit, it doesn't make me want to go there! Not glamourous at all, although some of it is pretty. I have only seen one episode of the sit com based on it, so I can't really comment on if this is better or not (I honestly can't remember a lot about the episode). It is a similar story to The Other End of the Line, which I also watched quite recently. I think this one is a little more realistic, while that one was more romantic, but both good stories. I found this quite funny in places as well. Worth a watch.
Matt G

Todd: Your name is Manmeet? A few years before the now popular NBC show, Outsourced, it was first an indie movie. In this post I will compare and decide which is better. Let's start with the TV show. In my opinion, the show is hilarious and features very likable characters. Not… More
Todd: Your name is Manmeet? A few years before the now popular NBC show, Outsourced, it was first an indie movie. In this post I will compare and decide which is better. Let's start with the TV show. In my opinion, the show is hilarious and features very likable characters. Not only does the show teach you about Indian culture, it also mocks it. Some different characters were added to the show who were not in the movie (The Australian girl, Guupta...).The movie, while has it's differences, is very similar to the show. All of the characters names remain the same, and the Todd-Asha relationship goes on. The big difference between them is that the movie was full of heart and soul and the show is... well a bunch of fart jokes and gags, which I like! But if I had to choose than I'd favor the film over the TV show. Read the full review at www.creedsdelight.com
Thomas J

I can see why this concept inspired a sitcom - very funny! A lot of over-the-top stereotypes, but funny none the less. A different romantic comedy that makes you laugh more than think about the romance!
Dean L

When I began watching this film initially I was put off. It looked like a hackneyed attempt to inject comedy into a situation that has touched many Americans; Outsourcing. What I found instead was a very insightful look into the other side of the equation-that which has touched the… More
When I began watching this film initially I was put off. It looked like a hackneyed attempt to inject comedy into a situation that has touched many Americans; Outsourcing. What I found instead was a very insightful look into the other side of the equation-that which has touched the people who have taken these jobs. The movie goes even further to speak to the culture in India (both the beauty and the difficult) as well as the work ethic. Pair this with a lovely romance, a very touching romance at that. This sleeper gem had real heart and made me care about the characters as well as the subject matter. It also asks the viewer to look at what defines you...what really matters in life. It is most definitely a comedy and has some great laughs, but it is so much more. Excellent script, wonderful sites, perfect, fresh new faces to play the parts. See it as soon as you can.
Deb S

Outsourced tells of the story of an American sales manager Todd aka Mr. Toad (Josh Hamilton) who is prompted to make a business trip to India in order to train his replacements in a call center where they sell "cheesy" patriotic novelties by phone order. The movie… More
Outsourced tells of the story of an American sales manager Todd aka Mr. Toad (Josh Hamilton) who is prompted to make a business trip to India in order to train his replacements in a call center where they sell "cheesy" patriotic novelties by phone order. The movie explores some the changes the main character had to go through with his initial embrace to Indian customs and a shockingly poor and over-crowded country. I know that arranged marriages are viewed as an archaic custom that devalues individual prerogative in the eyes of the western world but is it just me or did anyone else find it as offensive as I did with trying to say that this young Indian girl finds liberation in discreet sex with an American before resigning herself to life-long misery of an arranged marriage to a stranger who she will grow to love as being shamelessly uncomplimentary to the Indian Culture.
Donna D

Charming movie with intriguing story line that kept me interested throughout the entire movie. :) Funny and smart, a movie that will captivate you along with it's beauty. I loved it and highly recommend it. :)
Jessica v

What could have been a paint-by-numbers romantic comedy surprised me. A *lot*. The script is fresh and witty, the actors (with the exception of the lead) are wonderful and very real, and even the setting adds a touch of poignancy. That being said, Hamilton... is really not very… More
What could have been a paint-by-numbers romantic comedy surprised me. A *lot*. The script is fresh and witty, the actors (with the exception of the lead) are wonderful and very real, and even the setting adds a touch of poignancy. That being said, Hamilton... is really not very convincing. It's a real blah moment when you realize that. Consequently, you spend your time focusing on the supporting roles, all giving *very* honest and accurate portrayals of life in rural India. You've probably never heard of this one, so if you see it at your local Blockbuster, snatch it! You won't regret it.
Sunil J

Too cheezy and blah for me.
Leo L

Here is an intriguing movie that follows a man?s journey from Seattle to India. Todd Anderson works for a call-center as a salesman, until the company is outsourced. It is the company?s decision to have him train the new supervisor there, and to design a hard-working team as well. It… More
Here is an intriguing movie that follows a man?s journey from Seattle to India. Todd Anderson works for a call-center as a salesman, until the company is outsourced. It is the company?s decision to have him train the new supervisor there, and to design a hard-working team as well. It is then that he meets Asha, a woman who enables him to seek and learn about a culture and lifestyle of a people. Their attraction was clearly imminent. Great music (got to love ?Ari Ari Part III, and ?The Long Way Home?) Josh Hamilton and Ayesha Dharker stars. Truly worthy!