Ticket to Bollywood

This movie is touted as a comedy, but it’s far from it. Sure, it has it’s moments (which didn’t come across as very funny to me), but overall, it’s a drama with splashes of comedy. The movie starts out introducing us to the characters. The first thing that struck me was they didn’t really seem all that crazy. Arshad Warsi’s character, who has an anger management problem, doesn’t need to be in a mental hospital, he needs anger management classes. Same with the other three, the mental issues are really downplayed, so you wonder why they are there in the first place.

Anyways, we get to the story of the movie. Juhi’s their doc, she takes them out to watch a cricket match, and gets kidnapped in the process. We find out how, why, and all that good stuff. Then, the 4 crazies decide to save the day and get her back. Throw in a love angle, a man reuniting with his family, a mute finally speaking, and you get a warm, heartfelt story about 4 mental patients saving the day. Aww.

Performance-wise, I liked Irfan the best. His sudden changes, the way he talked, everything he did was just so in character. Arshad went over the top at times, but that’s kinda what his character called for. Rajpal was good in his role, and Suresh Menon really didn’t have much to do, considering he didn’t talk for 95% of the movie. Rajat Kapoor and Zaakir Hussain don’t have much to do. Surprising, considering their track record.

And yes, there are ladies in this film. Though you wouldn’t realize it. Both are shafted. Tiny tiny roles. Especially Juhi. It makes me wonder why she would sign a movie like this. She can do so much better, she has so much talent and is still as beautiful as ever. Please, someone make a movie that features her, I’m tired of her talent being wasted in tiny roles like this.

Dia does a nice job with what she’s given too. I think she’s a pretty good actress, when given the chance. Someone give her a movie too.

The songs are nothing to write home about. Rakhi’s item number comes out of nowhere (though I guess that’s what item numbers are supposed to be), Shah Rukh’s does actually come in the story, someone’s at a club watching him perform (a bit too closely if you ask me, but I’ll get to that later) and Hrithik’s finishes up the movie.

So, about the highlights of the movie.

I liked SRK’s item number, but of course, I’m biased. Some of the dance moves were shady, but overall, cute. It’s fun to be able to laugh at him and still love watching him.

For Hrithik’s, all they did was show the one minute promo that’s been everywhere. Nothing extra at all. That was a bit disappointing, I was expecting to see more.

Overall, it’s only a decent movie, timepass. I didn’t find myself getting bored, but I wasn’t totally into it either. I found it a bit better than the movie that released the same day, U Me Aur Hum. At least I wasn’t bored to tears in this one.

Rating:

Since I have no new movie reviews (I really have no desire to see TZP. I don’t know why.), here’s what I think about a few upcoming releases.

First up.

JODHA AKBAR

Ashutosh Gowarikar’s new magnum opus. And I hate to say it, but it looks like a magnum bore. The songs haven’t caught on, with me at least, and everything about it just seems so blah. Hrithik really fits the emperor role, but I’m not too sure about Ash. I don’t even know if I’ll watch this one on DVD. Hopefully it’s good, because I’m sure tons of money has gone into it.

There are also so many controversies surrounding it, about how historically accurate it is. That can bring a movie down. I know Asoka had the same problem, lots of people protested the accuracy of it, even though there was a nice little disclaimer at the beginning.

Oh well, only time will tell.

Next .

TASHAN

Seriously, how can you not be excited about Tashan? It’s the long awaited Sakshay reunion, and it promises to have rocking music by Vishal Shekhar. YRF knows they need to get into shape after their disastrous 2007, and Kareena’s coming off a high in Jab We Met. As for Anil, well, he’s everywhere now. So not much to say about him.

I’d like to see how Kareena and Saif look together on screen. This was the movie set where they hooked up, right? While poor Shahid was in Canada. But we aren’t getting into that.

I really hope this movie delivers. Lots of people are looking forward to it.

And, last but not least…

RAB NE BANA DI JODI

Such an old school title. But hey, it’s the reunion of SRK and Adi. After the magical DDLJ, and after the complete bore Mohabbatein. So, which one will we get? Is this the Adi of the 90s or the Adi of the 2000s? Also, we get another girl debuting opposite SRK. Really, why couldn’t Adi use one of the many competent actresses we have in the industry who haven’t been paired with SRK yet? His story better be something grand, because I don’t want to see SRK romancing a girl half his age.