BOLLYWOOD

Darshan Jariwala, Govind Namdeo and Zakir Husain have come up with the most unconvincing performances in recent times. Stuck with a poorly etched character, they find it difficult to move beyond first gear and stutter and stop at most times. At best, you can label their characters silly. All three are very good actors, mind you. Ranbir Kapoor, stuck with the same formula, (poorly etched character) comes up trumps. His role, too, has neither meat nor meaning, yet, he manages to blaze through on the sheer power of his acting abilities. This kid has star power written all over him. Even the silliest scenes he turns on the top of its head. You cannot help but marvel at the ease with which he consumes his lines; so much passion for even a dead role.

Yes, that's what Raj Kumar Santoshi's latest offering is. Prem (Ranbir Kapoor) runs Happy Club along with his friends. Their motto is simple; keep everyone happy and help lovers in distress. As president of the club, Prem and his gang go to any length to make sure two lovers get married. Even if it means getting the one he loves Jennifer, (Katrina Kaif) married off to the one she loves.

There are enough comic situations to justify that this is a comedy but not enough substance to validate the overemphasis on love. In the end, it's more a masala flick than a comedy.

But thanks to Ranbir, this film becomes bearable and there are moments he has you in his grasp, either with his performance or simply by his sheer presence. Katrina Kaif looks pretty as usual and has done a good job. However, I get a feeling that she has been miscast in this role. But when you look at it from the distributors and marketing point of view, this is a super jodi. I'm sure we will see more of them together.

The film swings like a pendulum; at one moment, it takes off and at another, it just drops. The track between the gangster (Zakir Husain) is uncalled for and lengthens the movie unnecessarily. As for the track with Rahul (Upen Patel), it's very, very long.

Just one question to Ranbir Kapoor and the people who have marketed this film: was it necessary to time the break-up story (if at all it is true) with girlfriend Deepika Padukone a few days before the release? I mean, C'mon, Ranbir can get the audience into the theatres on the strength of his performance. He does not need cheap publicity gimmicks to create a buzz about the film. On second thoughts, maybe Ranbir had no choice but to play to the market and make sure the film capitalized on the 'initials'. Love be damned.

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