Movie Review: Roadside Romeo Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn
Producer: Yash Raj Films Director: Jugal Hansraj Cast: Saif Ali Khna, Kareena Kapoor and Javed Jaffery
The mammoth production house of Bollywood, ‘Yash Raj Films’ delivers, ‘Roadside Romeo’ in collaboration with one of the biggest studios of the West (Walt Disney Pictures). Their churned out product is an animation picture for your entertainment. The animated flicks like The Lion King and Shrek have already spelled magic with the audiences all over the world even with the Indian audiences. So get ready to grab the entertainment with ‘Roadside Romeo’. Animation movies are not new to Bollywood, the viewers have enjoyed the films like ‘Hanuman’ in the past. These ilk of movies are usually targeted at the kids. Thus the same case is with this directed and written saga by Jugal Hansraj, who debuts as a director with this flick. The film borrows the formula of 80s projects where you used to find a hero, a heroine and a villain in every film. ‘Roadside Romeo’ is laced with this formula utterly and besides all this, there are love, misunderstandings, conflict and problems. This all is for your entertainment. So you watch this modern animated flick with the routine formula of 80s. The film is brilliant but it does falter script wise, which is mundane.
‘Roadside Romeo’ talks about Romeo (Saif Ali Khan), a dog who used to live a luxurious life in a huge mansion. He had the works – a mansion to live in, chicks to party with and the cars to be driven around in, until one day, the family he was the favorite pet of, decided to move and left him back, abandoned on the mean streets of Mumbai. The poor Romeo is now under those bad situations, he has never ever been in before. He bumps into a gang of four ruffians that comprises of three dogs – Guru (Vrajesh Hirjee), Interval (Suresh Menon), Hero English (Kiku Sharda) and cat Mini (Tanaaz Currim). Soon, the friendship develops between all of them. But he has to face the dreaded don of the area, Charlie Anna (Javed Jaffery), the fat bull dog. The smart Romeo outsmarts him as well. He meets the gorgeous Laila (Kareena Kapoor) at Moonlight Club and falls for him instantly. She performs there every night. Charlie likes her. So Romeo has to deal with the don to get his love.
The actor turned director Jugal Hansraj does brilliant with the direction but lacks in the script, which is the big flaw of the movie. The story is routine 80s formula. There is no novelty in the story. Dialogues are not well-penned. The ones the villain speaks can even not be comprehended by the adults, so how can the kids (who are the target audience of the film) can comprehend? The animation is a class done by Tata Elxsi/VCL. Choreography is wonderful.
Talking about the voice-overs, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Tanaz Currim attract the most, Javed Jaffery is ordinary. So are the others.
On the whole, ‘Roadside Romeo’ will work big amongst the kids. Even the adults can enjoy it. Don’t go for the script, just take the joy-ride.
RS Rating: 3/5
- The reviewer is a popular and experienced Bollywood and Indian TV Analyst and laced with a good rapport with the fraternities of Bollywood and Indian TV. He also shares a good rapport with the celebs of these swanky worlds. You may write to him at the e-mails: goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk, goher.punn@yahoo.com and bollywood.tv.analyst@gamil.com
