I wasn’t keen on writing this review, but this was the quickest way of ending my hibernation.
There are 2 things I inferred from this movie :
1. This is from the writer/director of Andaz Apna Apna.
2. Even he can’t re-create Andaz Apna Apna.
The movie has around 15 mins of wonderful comedy — sadly all those scenes are scattered and in the second half. But if you have to watch this one, walk straight into the second half. I was disappointed that Smita Jaykar and Darshan Jariwala (as Prem’s parents) weren’t used earlier in the movie. Once these (and other) side-characters get screen-time and the story veers away from his romance and friends in the second-half, the movie is almost on a stimulant. But just in spurts, not enough to save the movie.
The script is so bad that even someone as earnest as Ranbir couldn’t pull off some of the scenes (like the one in the balcony after intermission). Katrina Kaif is strictly okay but improving — her Hindi accent now sounds only 70% English. The revelation in acting is surprisingly, Upen Patel. The way he satirically imbibes the acting skills of those non-actor model-types who can’t act to save their life, was one of the high points of the movie.
Overall, I was especially disappointed with Ajab Prem .. as this could’ve so easily been a superb comedy, if only the script was worked on. It ends up being the story of another director stuck in a time-warp, struggling to reinvent himself. Sad.
Word has it that Rajkumar Santoshi is planning a movie on the lines of Andaz Apna Apna. It won’t have Salman, but more importantly, even Aamir won’t be in it.
Gee .. I wonder who’ll play a college student then.
Katrina Kaif is lookn damn cute bt whn cms acting shez strictly okay but improving..
By: trupti on November 12, 2009
at 9:22 pm
I feel as if you’re more disappointed because it was by the same makers as Andaz Apna Apna than the movie itself. If you watch the movie in its own entity….I think it’s pretty neat..especially as far as Bollywood comedies are concerned and as far as you’re not comparing it with Andaz Apna Apna.
As far as acting is concerned, I think Katrina fell short in more scenes than one. For example when she says “tum bohat ache ho, I like you” …it LOOKED so fake. I used this example because its been shown in promos too so for those who haven’t seen the movie can get a jist of what her acting is all about in the movie. I agree with you when you say the script was bad..in the sense that it could’ve been better prepared but on the other hand, on various occasions it was the script more than the enactment of it that made the scene funny I suppose..
The climax fight scene was well done..Totally totally loved it. Didn’t understand the whole Jesus asking for direction thing…but I suppose it was a way to send Prem back to the town -shrug-..
Overall, I would give it 4 stars out of 5, solely because it was good entertainment…it was funny, it didn’t seem as if jokes were being made for the sake of making it a comedy..Ranbir did a great job especially being a new comer… and it was just a light-hearted, family movie to end your gay day with. =P
By: brok3n on November 14, 2009
at 9:35 am
@brok3n : That was long. Here we go :
There had to be a reference to AAA because the makers begged for it – the song in the background, lines eerily similar to those in AAA, characters similar to those. But anyway, I did review the movie standalone besides the first 2 lines.
Katrina — agree.
Jesus – How did I forget to mention that ! This Jesus was only slightly better than the one in Delhi 6. But both totally WTF.
4 out of 5 — Really ??? I sincerely hope ur scale goes upto 10 out of 5 [:)].
Randir — agree.
The main problem is, it dragged a whole lot.
The only thing great about the movie was Upen Patel.
By: Deepak Iyer on November 14, 2009
at 9:43 am
lol Im surprised you liked Upen THAT much. But I guess you have a point there..
and Im also surprised you don’t think it deserves 4 stars? ..I’ll take .5 down mostly because Im doubting my judgment now o.o..but it wasn’t THAT bad..com’on. Since you mentioned Delhi 6..-cough- compared to the recent crap I’ve watched including Delhi 6, Billu Barber..more recently Life Partner, Wanted……. Ajab Prem Ki gives me hope =(
By: brok3n on November 15, 2009
at 8:26 am
@brok3n : Now that you mention your data set, I am not surprised with the 4 stars [:)]. Didn’t you feel that it dragged along quite a bit ?
Wait, are you a huge fan of Ranbir’s ?
Btw, I liked Upen Patel’s acting in a sadistic way, just for the record ! But yeah, he was the *best* thing in the movie. They don’t make actors like him anymore. Sigh.
By: Deepak Iyer on November 15, 2009
at 8:30 am
it dragged at some points, yea but the scenes that followed made up…. I mean I didn’t yawn or anything -shrug-
Im not a Ranbir fan though..In fact this the first Ranbir movie I’ve seen o.o
About Upen….lol there’s a sarcastic tone there Deepak… you didnt really like him either, did you. Maybe he just surprised you a little like me..and thats about it =(
By: brok3n on November 15, 2009
at 10:01 am
@brok3n : Heh. I didn’t know my sarcasm could be so confusing.
P.S. : Check this hotmail id of yours.
By: Deepak Iyer on November 15, 2009
at 10:22 am