Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani is a forced attempt at comedy and you pay for your decision of watching it in more ways than just through your pocket.
However, cutting it some slack, the film does have couple of scenes and dialogues that attempts to bring an effortless smile on your face, though very rare and offers you some respite. But overall it is an eyesore with flimsy and uneven script that tries desperately, but all in vain to justify the "comedy factor" at every single minute in this supposedly romantic-comedy film.
The film set in a picturesque town, is about a 9th standard school dropout, happy-go-lucky boy called Prem ( Ranbir Kapoor) who is the president of "Happy club" which for a fairly dear membership price can solve all your problems and make your life happy. Our protagonist, Prem, inadvertently falls in love with Jenny while on a kidnap assignment. T
here’s no time wasted in this process because its love at the very first sight even though, through a pair of binoculars. But there is a problem, as Jenny is being forced by her conniving family to marry a rich but an irritating obnoxious male chauvinist, called Toni, who will only marry women who "have never been touched". And then there is more problem, when Jenny confesses to Prem that she loves someone else ( Upen Patel) and wants to get married.
Prem, like every selfless true lover, decides to sacrifice his love and help Jenny against all odds to unite her with her lover.
Unlike the title of the film, which builds up an expectation for something unprecedented to happen, the plot is pretty mediocre and nothing unexpected or new happens at any point of time, which is a let down. The second major let down is the multiple forced attempts to make one laugh just for the sake of it to the point that it gives way to frustration.
One incident that comes to mind immediately is the climax fight scene with the Don and his group, in order to rescue Jenny. It is supposedly a romantic-comedy flick with the simple task of delivering a generous dose of romance and being able to tickle your funny bone at the same time. If it justifies the romance part, as far as humor is concerned, you feel like the director hovering over you with a stick just in case you missed to laugh at the part where you were supposed to.
The third let down in the film is the length. There is no rhyme or reason, why one has to wait so long and is exposed to such a level of tomfoolery to find out that Jenny and Prem unite in the end, very much as expected.
The two things that stand out in this film and help walk you through it are Ranbir’s and Katrina’s lovely chemistry and the beautiful songs also shot in great locales.
The scenes where Prem and Jenny stammer whenever they are upset is cute. Couple of rare yet genuine light-hearted moments are when Prem is trying to cover up for Jenny’s presence in his house by wearing Jenny’s top and claiming it as his, or the scenes when Prem is driving Jenny and Toni to their wedding or the love-hate relationship with his father.
As far as individual acting is concerned, Ranbir Kapoor is and always has been a complete delight to watch on screen. Good that he had other films in his bag that speak of his talent and showcased the amazing actor in him that he is today, because this film surely fails to do so. The mediocrity of the script and direction takes over his efforts to bring out the best in himself, hence under-utilizing his potential.
This is definitely not the script that matches his talent. If one has watched "Wake up Sid" not long before this film, the contrast would strike out even more. Katrina, surprisingly did a good job, lighting up the screen every time she came and did not goof up her part anywhere.
The brit-accent kind of became an extension to the role of Jenny that she played. Both Ranbir and Katrina looked great individually as Prem and Jenny as well as together. Upen Patel as Jenny’s lover Rahul was just pathetic and a waste of time.
The lilting tracks in the film by Pritam are like oasis in the desert.
The wafer thin script with no story or character development, forced attempts at humor, the same pre-ordained destiny of the guy and girl finally getting each other in the end, leaves the viewer with nothing fresh or new to walk out with. Watch this, if you must, for the great chemistry between Ranbir and Katrina.