Mon Avis: Movie review - Love Aaj Kal - a 'mango' film (if mango meant - super ordinary, huh! )

Love Aaj Kal is no coincidence - The way Bollywood is ripening , it is no longer shy in providing a sharp-dialogued, tongue-in-cheek portrayal of modern live-in couples who make out, make up and break up - all for a casual fling. But does that mean it is true? Not too far , not too close. I guess film too had to bank on the age old formula (however true or false) - Amongst all the flings, flimsiness and futility of a casual hook up, there is a heart somewhere that beats for love.

All that said, the question is whether Imtiaz could pull this one off with Deepika, Saif and Rishi as main leads. The answer (arguably) is 'Not quite'. The film has its moments but then it has its bores too.

Imtiaz and others of his generation have found a strange refuge in gaudy cinematography at few of the most exotic locales - looking as if someone has meticulously touched up each and every frame. Costumes are funky - Saif is dudish , Deepika is styled in minis and micros and even our own Rishi wears a test cricket (oh so English) sweater. But then Imtiaz realised this and put a contrast - He put together a good-enough 60s ensemble set and gave it a little life with a parallel story (as he says - Eastman color).

Saif and Deepika are an ambitious dating couple who slowly get bored of each other and 'amicably' (you should see this redefinition of word amicable . lol) Saif meets Rishi who gives him a wisdom nugget or two and recaps his flash back of his 'sturdy - surdy' days. So starts a parallel tale of Love Kal vis a vis Love Aaj. How does it all end? As if we cared as long as it is quintessential feel good :)

Ups:

• Saif - Manages superb expressions in his Sardar role and less so in his cocky modern avatar - Watch for those wonderful scenes of him and a new lass (one dimensional , as a dear friend puts it) in the balcony - all love struck and moony eyed :) His modern role is just so much a repetition of DCH, KHNH and other such metrosexual-ish sketches
  
• Deepika - Charms a bit in her straight dialogue delivery but falls short on some real acting. There are many occasion and scenes which demanded far more gravity but none was to be found. But then, she is hardly 2-3 films old. This film , however, presents her well.
• Rishi - Was good, was suave and was as genteel as his young days. I have always maintained he must do more of films.

Downs:

• Imtiaz - Was a let down - Not even comparable scripts to Socha na tha and JWM . His direction in the first half, coupled with some random edits gave the movie a befuddled look. He tried his hand at parallelism and I will give that to him. Else, this film would have been a disaster. Alas, he failed to touch any chords with me or my partner.
• Cinematography - Too gaudy , too colorful and strikingly unwarranted - In an attempt to make it colorful , this film ends up being an unrealistic canvas.
• Music - Two hummable songs Dooriyan and one in end credits - Twist is OK too but after third listen you lose the connection
• Script - Horrifying loopholes, - Deepika's sudden marriage takes a lot of time to sink - ridiculous scenes justifying Saif's recovery of passion was shocking and many such moments that leave you with awkwardness that gets covered up by some decent acting and humor. Even in the humor department, this film takes itself too lightly and gives out few bunch of lines that really dont make anyone laugh. But then, alls well that ends well

A decent watch for the lack of anything else. With a tub of popcorn and an interesting company - all should be well . This is the only choice Aaj Kal.