I’ve been quite surprised with the reactions to My Name is Khan. First, it was a pleasant surprise to read all the positive reviews from the critics. Almost all of them had nothing but good things to say about KJo’s latest film.

But then the member reviews started coming in. The initial ones were still very positive, but then one person didn’t like it. Then another. Then a few more. “What’s going on?” I thought. Those few reviews caused me to unconsciously lower my expectations for the film. I watched it Saturday afternoon, and came out of the theater so happy. SRK, to use an overused cliche, knocked it way out of the park. The SRK/Kajol pair delivered the magic, and Karan didn’t ruin a great opportunity.

Karan doesn’t change his formula too much. Why should he, he’s made 3 super-successful films. MNIK makes you smile, it makes you cry. It may be void of the colorful dances, the lip-synced songs, the rona-dhona, but you don’t miss it in this film. He also includes those scenes that you really wish he would have cut out. But it’s Karan. You forgive him for iit.

The first half of the film is just simply amazing. Interval comes too quickly. You’re sucked into the Rizvan/Mandira love story, and just keep wanting more. You love Rizvan’s innocence, telling their friend that he simply doesn’t like the food she’s made. It’s not done with malice, not meant to hurt anyone’s feelings, but he can’t lie. And doesn’t see anything wrong with telling the truth. You laugh when he takes Mandira’s words literally, in the lighthearted case of him saying “Don’t die, don’t die” when Mandira says she wants to die, and in the more serious scene, when Mandira tells him to go tell the President that he’s not a terrorist, and off he goes, not to return until he accomplishes his task.

The songs work in the film as well, though the volume could have been turned down a bit. Some dialogues are missed due to the loud songs. Also, no subtitles on the songs, which I don’t understand. If we need the subs for the movie, we certainly need them for the songs. And the songs have so much meaning.

The film does go a bit downhill, starting with the church singing. I was fine with Rizwan talking to the other people in the church in Hindi. Those emotions come across, no matter what language you are speaking. Everyone in that church was praying for a lost loved one. Emotions were high, and here’s this man who is pouring his heart out for his son. You can’t help but cry. But the singing after is what I didn’t like. Reminded me too much of the disastrous ‘Jana Gana Mana’ part in K3G. It’s just not necessary.

Also, what almost everyone has been complaining about, the hurricane sequences. After thinking about it more, I’m more accepting of it. But it’s still a mess in my opinion. It just seems like a whole new film stuck into the one we’ve been watching. I don’t understand why they aren’t making getting people out of there the number one priority, and why they would rebuild while the hurricane is still going on. I didn’t mind Rizvan being there, I didn’t mind Mama Jenny’s character at all. But things could have been handled better.

I also wish Sam didn’t have to die. But I guess something major had to happen for Mandira to tell Rizvan to leave. But I would have liked to see the happy family at the end.

Shah Rukh Khan makes the whole movie. He IS Rizvan Khan. He plays the character so perfectly, he is never ever out of character. Each mannerism, each dialogue, everything was just amazing. I have no words for this guy. By far it’s his best performance ever, and it will certainly be hard to top, not just by himself, but by anyone.

Kajol was also amazing, and shone in her smaller part. The standout was certainly after her son’s death, as she lies over his body. I couldn’t stop crying. Zarina Wahab was the perfect choice as Rizvan’s mother. She certainly shaped him into the man he became. I wish Jimmy Shergill had more screen time, because he is such a good actor, and shone in his small part as Zakir, Rizvan’s neglected younger brother.

I really loved Sonya Jehan’s character. She’s so sweet and caring with Rizvan, and finally gives Zakir and Rizvan an explanation for Rizvan’s behavior. I also loved that she showed up at the wedding. A great sister-in-law to Rizvan, someone he needed in his life. Also enjoyed Parvin Dabbas, Arjun Mathur, Tanay Chheda, Sugandha Garg, and Vinay Pathak in their small roles.

MNIK is filled with lots and lots of sweet moments that stay with you long after you leave the theater, my favorite being when Mandira asks Rizvan to marry her. He turns away, covers his face with his hands. It’s very sweet, and you can just see how happy it makes Rizvan, considering he had been asking Mandira the same question over and over and over again with no answer.

All the interaction between Rizvan and Mandira is memorable. Him taking her to various places in SF, and she says she’s already seen them, Rizvan asking Mandira to cut his hair, while she already has a customer sitting in her chair, Rizvan stealing glances at Mandira through his camera, and her following along when she catches him, and Rizvan flirting with a customer, and Mandira telling him that it’s not allowed. So many wonderful moments between these two, it makes the whole film worth it.

Rizvan shines on his own as well. The scene with his mother is very touching, she asks for a two minute hug, and he starts counting. We get a laugh when Rizvan tries all the herbal products on himself before going to sell them, as he wants to be as truthful as possible. And also him telling potential customers that it won’t make them beautiful, only enhance their features. Also loved at the end, when he remembers to give the President the ‘howdy’ message. And how particular he is with people pronouncing his name. It’s Khhaaaan. Get it right.

In the end, I absolutely loved the movie. The performances and the first half overshadow any doubts I may have about the film. It’s one I’ll cherish, and will probably wear out the first half of my DVD when I get it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I don’t know what to think of K-Jo. He is a good director, I’ll give him that. But sometimes I think he tries too hard. He wants to please everyone, and in doing that, forgets to please his audience. He knows SRK is a given in his movies, so he neglects his characters as well, relegating him to the backdrop, and letting another star take the thunder.

I’m scared for his next movie. Tentatively titled ‘My Name is Khan’, it supposedly reunites Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol (please wait a moment as my head explodes). He calls it a ‘love story with a subtle message’. That scares me. “Subtle”? Does Karan know the meaning of the word? I get the uneasy feeling that he’s banking heavily on the fact that he’s brining Shah Rukh and Kajol back together again, and he’ll let his screenplay/script slip a bit. Or, he’ll try way too hard to please us this time after KANK, that he’ll totally miss the point.

Especially if he’s thinking about taking on the backdrop of 9/11. This movie can go horribly wrong if he doesn’t handle this well. So many people were affected by it, included many Indians. Him being the kind of director he is, and the way he handled adultery in KANK, you can see why I’m worried.

Though he does seem to see what went wrong in KANK. Hopefully, he can have someone behind him, like his father was before, to catch him before he makes those mistakes. I hope he works this one out, because Shah Rukh and Kajol reuniting is something that lots of people have been waiting for.

Oh, and Karan? Bring back the brilliance of the bangle scene before Suraj Hua Maddham, and the gazebo scene from KKHH. We love you for those.