Sanket’s Review: “Revolver Rani” is an awful attempt to make a dark satirical comedy.

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Vir Das, Zakhir Hussain, Piyush Mishra

Direcor: Sai Kabir

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

If one has to live through REVIOLVER RANI, cotton for ears, and a pillow for your brain is mandatory accessory you might require. Set in a hinterland of India against the background of two political entities trying to take pot-shots at each other for victory. But what they do to reserve their victory is written in pattern of shoddy screenplay where predictability is written all over even if the pretends to have wooed you with the interval twist.

The film starts to drag down from the word go. The first couple of scenes involving Zakhir Hussain and his two good-for-nothing nincompoop companions is stretched to death. I felt I watched half the film in first 10 minutes itself. When Kangana arrives in the film, you expect the film to catch a flight and raise a momentum. But alas! REVOLVER RANI has nothing in its kitty. The abrupt incestuous love sparkling between Vir Das and Kangana too doesn’t help the film either especially given the kind of person Kangana plays who is virago-esque. But the film only looks struggling although amidst all the bumps and hurdles there are few sharp dialogues that one can crack a chuckle.

Even post intermission, which starts afresh after a sudden U-turn in the story, starts to succumb to old  revenge format of our Bollywood and quite unconvincingly so. The only moment I remember from this film is the one where Vir Das’ character is compelled to do stuff which is far away from what he is looking at in life. You’ll know that when and if you watch the film. The climax of the film where all pretentious heroics of our heroine creeps in reminded me of another poor women-centric drama released few weeks ago called GULAAB GANG: the similarity is both the film is trying to glorify women’s power but with an inane plot.

With terrible songs and background score it only helps in deteriorating the overall impact of the film. The film’s crux i.e. the screenplay itself is filled with clichés and failed attempts of writing whacky characters which are far from funny even if they do help you have some laughs in couple of scenes.

Vir Das is the only bright spot in this dreadful film. I enjoyed watching his scenes even though he is capability is far better. Kangana Ranaut couldn’t develop a single emotion in viewer’s hearts even while she is going through deep trouble in throughout the second half. She never justifies the role, which was a new one. Her bewildering expressions would have been apt for rather a horror film.

In the end, all I can say is REVOLVER RANI can be missed with pride. And if you’re a Kangana fan, then you must skip it- this is not a performance any fan would like to see of his/her star.

Rating- 1.5/5

Sanket’s Review: “2 States” is reasonably watchable.

Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy.

Director: Abhishek Verman

Length: 2 hrs and 29 minutes.

External forces in love stories have always been a hurdle in Bollywood films. Although 2 STATES is not all about that, but the crux of the film is drawn around the same plot. Staying mostly faithful to Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name, 2 STATES has too much in store to offer, but it takes too long to bring it to you. Longing for around two and half hours, there are times you feel the lack of conviction in the story as well as the direction resulting in overlong scenes slackening the pace often.

Yet, the film has refreshing approach especially when the story begins in the college days when the romance breezes through enough humor and young emotions which Verman executes with aplomb. The conversational love-story that starts on a sparkling note continues without any bumps. Its when Arjun reaches Chennai when the film begins to get repetitive wooing the family. The purpose isn’t exactly chalked out from beginning that the audience could follow. Still, there are some heartening little scenes like the one, where Alia Bhatt’s mom reaches singing stage and strings some nice songs together, which estranges the film from its flaws.

The film benefits enormously from Amrita Singh and Arjun kapoor’s regular issues which the director handles with utmost maturity. Although the film could have chosen more interesting route to reach its finale. The shaky sentiments shared between Arjun and his dad has its moment but it gets more due then what it deserved.

The songs fit nicely in the story and the music is refreshing. The dialogues are relatable in beginning but as the film goes ahead in predictable zone, the dialogues too start getting clichéd. The novel, from which the screenplay is adapted was a good read but Verman should have chopped off the unrequited and unwarranted parts in the film. Although whatever Verman has brought to the table as a director is appreciable.

Arjun Kapoor does exceedingly well initially but once the film mixes in the emotional and dramatic genre, the graph of his performance drops. Yet, it’s a tad better comeback after disappointing with his acting in “Aurangzeb” and “Gunday”. Alia Bhatt is terrific and displays nice blend of vulnerability and spunk in her performance. But its Amrita Singh who knocks it out of the park in rather commanding role. She plays a mischievous yet matured woman with excellence.

2 STATES is not at all bad way to spend a lazy afternoon. It has enough elements to glue you to your seats throughout. Although one does feel the sense of repetitiveness and slowed pace in the film. Its not your must-watch romantic drama, although there’s no harm catching it once.

Rating- 2.5/5 

Sanket’s review: “Bhoothnath Returns” stumbles despite a promising premise.

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Parth, Boman Irani, Sanjay Mishra

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Just when the elections are around the corner, BHOOTHNATH RETURNS pins down its entire premise on the political tantrums and voting importance. Even if it sounds like a promising premise, it stumbles for most of the parts in its overlong time frame. What could have been a fun and heartwarming movie, ends up being mildly catchy and funny.

The film starts without investing much time in character establishing and takes you to a Ghost’s world. The film kicks in with enough humor, especially when the kiddo meets our gold-hearted Bhoothnath. But what lacks in BHOOTHNATH RETURNS is the execution that doesn’t seem convoluted even if it has an implausible story tugged right at the heart. Its not easy to come out with a script that is incredible to be true and yet be convincing. Although we have seen in recent past that how easily Umesh Shukla drew our attention in that heart-winning film called OMG OH MY GOD. Although not everything is wrong with BHOOTHNATH RETURNS as we get to see some nicely attached moments that feels relatable. Some parts are nicely handled like the relationship between the kid and his mom.

But once the political angle comes into the picture, the film neither engages you in the film nor does it completely bore you. It becomes plain, ordinary film where you get to see hilarious Sanjay Mishra providing comical respites and some dragged scenes which involves the cheesy endorsing of importance of voting. BHOOTHNATH RETURNS just needed better writing and directing which could have salvaged lot of clutches that the film goes through.

The songs are good for the film, especially “party toh banti hai”. The dialogues are smart at few places but however they are clichéd at most of the places. Director Nitesh Tiwari couldn’t quite grab your heed with the story that he had and the editor couldn’t chop off the overstepped scenes in both halves of the film.

Amitabh Bachchan nicely portrays his character although he didn’t bring the emotional touch that he usually does. Parth is a complete surprise package. He fits the bill and keeps a complete check on the authentication segment. He acts too good and his bonding moments with Amitabh Bachchan are the best bits in the film. Boman Irani over-acts and that’s all. Sanjay Mishra is hilarious in his initial two scenes.

BHOOTHNATH RETURNS if compared to the prequel, then its much matured in its thought-process, but too low on the connect that it could make with kids and their parents. If you go in for the film, keep your expectations in a strict check.

Rating- 2/5

Sanket’s Review: “Main Tera Hero” is your watch-and-forget kitchen fun.

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’cruz, Nargis Fakhri, Anupam Kher, Arunoday Singh, Rajpal Yadav.

Director: David Dhawan

Length: 2hrs and 5 mins approx

The platform is set forever when it’s a David Dhawan film- and ensemble cast filled with wicked and witty characters, one out of them has some weird physical expression, some has physical illness etc. And there is where the humor is derived from even in MAIN TERA HERO which is a faithful addition to Dhawan’s school of film-making which is your regular watch-and-forget kitchen fun.

There is not much to seek for narration here as every actor in the film has single point agenda- be as funny as ever. And for that, Dhawan ensures he sells his film in over-exploited way of comedy. But what marks a point here are the fresh dialogues and terrific lead performance. So one after the other scene is set for you to laugh out loud and those scenes are not necessarily in cohesion and straightness. A better screenplay and good editing day could have saved the film from tiring scenes like the introduction scene of Arunoday Singh who wants to have a command over his anger, or also like Shakti Kapoor part in latter half of the film. Yet, despite clichés in abundance, there is still enough joy intact to the film’s overall packaging- there are shocking twists, there are delicious dance numbers, there are hotties around, there are sharp wit-driven dialogues and then there is the major ace in form of Varun Dhawan. These things bind together the film in a way that doesn’t let you go uncomfortable with the scenes.

Although one definitely wishes that an unfunny Arunoday Singh’s part was reduced to half or lesser. He hams in every second and even his physical and facial humor is inappropriate. Such small negatives do hamper the overall film as Arunoday Singh has good enough screen time. Also one wishes Rajpal Yadav, a magnificent talent we all are aware of, was given meatier role to play to his boundary.

MAIN TERA HERO has songs jumping from all sides, yet one never complaints. The songs are fantastically executed and the tunes are too catchy even if you try and forget them. But one of the biggest plusses of the film has to be the dialogues which cannot be dumb down just for the sake of it. There is smartness that reflects in Milap Zaveri’s dialogues which plays crucial player of most of comedies. David Dhawan is a man who knows how to extract winning performance from his lead movie star. David Dhawan also manages to make the film watchable and enjoyable despite its derivative type of story-telling. Quite seldom does a film shows sparks of freshness even in antiquated template.

Varun Dhawan is so easy on eyes in MAIN TERA HERO that its surprising to see him being able to pull through with such zing in his performance. And mind you, its just his second film. The confidence put out there by the actor is a revelation to witness. His buffoonery, goofy yet charming boy portrayal sucks you in the film totally when he is present. Although the girls doesn’t really have much to do here apart from wearing suggestive designer clothes, delivering the ordinary lines and maintaining the sexiness throughout the run time. Saurabh Shukla helps the film have some good laughs and so does Rajpal Yadav whose prowess isn’t wholly realized in the film.

It’s a good weekend watch with your friends, but yes, that is only if you have been a fan of Dhawan’s pronounced and loud comedy and if you are still ready to take them. It is not a great comedy, far from it, but yet it manages to put fun on screen. A worthy time-pass!

Rating – 3/5