Movie Review: Dream Girl..pretty in patches

Ayushmann Khurrana has carved out his own niche with offbeat comedies. Am sure though, even he would admit, that this is probably his most offbeat movie yet. Its also the one that gives him the maximum room to perform and he seizes it with both hands. While he may not look like a dream, his performance is probably the best reason to watch this one.

The premise itself is extremely weird. Kudos to the director to take up such a concept and build on it so creatively. In its treatment, Dream Girl is sure to remind viewers of Vicky Doner (that still being the better movie and by a mile). The hit pair of Ayushmann and Anu Kapoor also returns - though they don't sparkle as much this time around.

There are wonderfully quirky characters that build the side act - not just as a filler, but a complement to our protagonist. Sure they are all totally one-dimensional, but its a clever selection, being a subtle commentary on many issues that plague our society. Unfortunately, its the main message where the movie falters. There is so much potential but that is frittered away in a forced lesson that gets talked about only in its beginning and end and doesn't feel real. Especially the second half and the climax is where it gets terribly uneven.

The laughs are more due to the writing than the situations the characters find themselves in. At times, it even feels that the scene is added to serve the writing alone. You'll laugh and then you'll wonder  why that scene was necessary. Some twists get a bit much and teeter dangerously at the edge. Fortunately, the performances remain true in both the side and the main act, which makes this one still an enjoyable watch.

As the Dreamgirl himself/herself is the guy who has been having a dream run at the box office and only seems to get better and stronger with every performance. He embraces his character without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation though the nature of this character would have prompted both. He is completely in his element in both male/ female avatars and keeps the audience interested throughout. Nushrath Bharucha's character though in sharp contrast is woefully inadequate - looking  more like a pretty face rather than being fully fleshed out. Its the side act that comes to the rescue - with veterans like Vijay Raaz, Annu Kapoor in fine touch and having decently defined characters as well.

This Dreamgirl needed one final check in the mirror before she presented herself. That would've cleaned some extra make up, dabbed a few patches here and there and got her to showcase her inner beauty as well. As it stands though, you can still go see her, but don't expect to be captivated - you've probably seen better.

Movie Review: Chhichhore..shares a worthy message

Contrary to my own expectations, my biggest takeaway from Chhichhore which I had billed as a wannabe and possibly worthless 3 Idiots aspirant even before entering the movie hall, wasn't its jokes or comedy.While it has ample of those too, Chhichhore, shares a beautiful and pertinent message, especially in today's rat race and pressure cooker environment that I would consider its real draw.

How much you would relate to the humor and jokes of the movie, is highly dependent on one simple factor - have you at all experienced hostel life? If so, you will rejoice at the literal tribute to hostel life that Nitesh Tiwari manages - showcasing all the elements of the not-so-glorious but wonderfully carefree life. You'll probably reminisce back to your own experience - finding parallels of your own to the quirky characters the movie spends ample time introducing us to. If not, you'll still have the laughs, they may just not connect as deep.

To tell its story though, the movie does a juggle between the past and present which isn't all that convincing and sometimes feels outright jarring - especially with events that are happening. In the present, the movie takes some brave calls and makes a rather poignant start. The past, in sharp contrast, is light and fresh. However, the comparison between past and present doesn't always fit and it feels like a forced connect at times, especially at the intermission stage. The movie takes some weird turns while still telling a predictable story. At one point, it even starts feeling like a version of Student of the year, with better actors and performances, but in the end, it all feels okay - simply because at its heart, the movie's message is genuine and much valuable.

Chhichhore is also helped by an earnest performance by its entire cast. Sushant Singh Rajput isn't all that convincing in the present, but his college days have him in fine form. Shraddha Kapoor has a simpler character - well its either that - or she approaches her past and present the same way and looks exactly the same. However, the real scene stealer is the erstwhile Chucha, now Sexa (which I suspect will soon become his new household name). Varun Sharma is in fine form, with the best lines and expressions, that has the audience in splits for most of the time. One can argue that his character is similar to that of his Chucha avatar from Fukrey fame - but there is no denying that in pulling off this kind of character, Varun truly excels. 

Chhichhore's songs aren't all that melodious but don't slow down the narrative beyond a point. The laughs keep on coming even when the mood is sombre. A lot of the movie prefers to keep the canvas as black and white rather than shades of grey, which is closer to real life. The climax, even though painfully obvious (well, almost so) is also slowed down considerably. However, the ultimate message of the movie is a winner all the way and highly pertinent for today's generation of kids as well as parents.

Chhichhore then is definitely worthy of a visit to the theater. While some of the execution can feel a bit lame, its laughs are genuine - you are bound to have a good time - and its message sets a shining example that I hope many take inspiration from.