A most startling discovery I have made is to never watch a movie after every second person has praised it to death (that means they have seen it as well). You will not like it as much as you would if you did not carry so many expectations to it. Of course there are exceptions like E.T. and Shola Bai part 2 (what you have not watched it?). And hence, I did not enjoy two movies seen recently, Star Wars - A New Hope and My Big Fat Greek Wedding as much as I would have if I did not listen to all those people. Now how do I know the movies were good in first place if I did not like them so much. Well I could not find out why I did not like it and there really is nothing to detest about them other than your gigantic expectations.
Mbfgw is every inch a Barjatya-Johar-Chopra movie. For starters, the title is long and lends itself to an acronym. Next, it is over the top and loud, has some awfully funny caricatures, wedding is the central theme along with the mush and customs associated with it. The parents are well like most parents as well. Then of course there is a whole lot of philosophical mumbo jumbo like the dreams, difference, destiny and life. And on top of all this a very nice background score. Well replace Greek with Punjabi and you have the same ambience. The girl is amazing, she is fat and over 30 years of age. Wow! That alone was a reason enough for an oscar. And then on top we had her absolute darling brother as well (the only naughty character in the movie). The chunnu munnu are all nick* schemata members. And the family members, they never really end. A whole bunch of them with each of them suitably eccentric. And a funny greek accent with a mush filled climax. There is a church scene as well. It is more slick and shorter. And it has a semblance of a story as well. Whats there not to like?
Well the only thing I think was missing was that I expected a lot of laughter but the laughs were more in nuances than obvious PJ’s. Further, I was not prepared for all this mushy stuff thrown liberally. I dont even know whether to like the grandmother for her sweet inanity or hate her for turning from inane to mush mid way. I liked the acting of the actress and the actor, well he had nothing much to do anyway. The immediate family and cousin aunty was good and actors parents were suitably amazed as well. Editing is crisp and yet allows space for the story to build. Screenplay is nuanced and simple, uncluttered. Otherwise also the movie is competent technically for the genre. Direction is alright, not that you needed Kurusawa to direct it anyway. What he did well was to keep everything is the flow and hence you did not have a prolonged session of melodrama or laughter or anything else. Nice job along with the editor. And yes the OST is one of the best esp the one where Toulea first goes to work with travel agency. :)
Overall, a fun filled nice mush filled nuanced simplicity filled movie. Good timepass but dont go in thinking a lot of mush or laughter is going to be there. It is feel good movie and has its moments. And remember never watch a movie after every second person has praised it to death (that means they have seen it as well). You will not like it as much as you would if you did not carry so many expectations to it.