There is something about predictable relief. It is predictable and you know you are doing it for some relief: ice creams, sweets, retail therapy and certain movies like ‘I Hate Luv Storys’ would fall into this category. The last one, only if you gush over the mush.
The story revolves around a boy and a girl who are the antithesis of each other. The girl digs love and love stories, the perfect man, flowers, chocolates, candle-lit dinners and what not. The boy digs women, is on the prowl, doesn’t want to commit and thinks that love is a four letter word. They work in a film production unit that churns out movies soaked in formulaic love. There is a realization that there is something more than friendship brewing between them. How they handle this from their respective ends of the pole is what the story tries to unravel.
There is absolutely nothing original about this movie. In fact, I think the director Punit Malhotra has parodied Dharma Productions and Yash Raj films scenes over the last 15 years, with the blessings of his producer Karan Johar. Those who have followed these films may laugh a bit here and there. Those who have not, will miss even that. With the plot context set in a film shooting, a better effort could have been made to intersperse the real story with the reel story but that too doesn’t happen. The saving grace is good peppy music by Vishal-Shekar, generous eye candy and a couple of 1-liners here and there that do make you laugh.
The performances are all ordinary. Imran Khan has the naughty charm that he showed us in ‘Jaane Tu..’ but falls short in scenes that are a bit complex. He needs some catching up to do if he has to compete with Ranbir Kapoor, who has proven himself in a variety of roles already. Sonam Kapoor is a classical beauty who looks great but has to work on her acting especially in emotional scenes. The actor who does stand out is Samir Soni who plays the love-obsessed director who churns out one love story after another, a role that clearly parodies Karan Johar with some additional comical elements thrown in.
This is a concoction of all famous Hindi movie love stories this side of 1995. A hot chocolate fudge may not be a bad alternative!
