I know why Karan named this film thus. He never wanted to say Alvida to the audience who come in the theater. A long meandering movie with portions which are half baked and over baked with all the wrong ingredients is a huge let down with every single actor other than Abhishek Bachan treating their acting as mere customary and particularly pedestrian. The characterization and screenplay which generally has been a Karan Johar forte are found awfully wanting. The direction makes it seem like his first movie, rather than third. SRK and Rani play characters which neither of them seem to have understood [cant blame them] - their acting is striclty mechanical, not a single scene has any histronics. Preity Zinta sashays in once in a while in clothes that go lower and lower as movie progresses, gives her feministic bhashan to disappear again and appear again and give her well feministic bhashan. Amitabh Bachan tries to liven up the proceedings but the comic timing is all over the place. Kirron Kher is highly subdued and was better in even a Fanaa. Abhishek Bachan is the only one who has a decent character fleshed out and gives a good performance with applause worthy scenes and audience sympathy. The biggest let down in KANK, is you do not feel for anyone - not one character. A stretched like rubber movie which does not deserve a movie ticket worth 200 rupees or price of DVD - even star power is not worth it [even John has all the wrinkles and Kajol is strictly un charming if she could ever be]. Watch it if someone gifts you a DVD/ ticket free.
The film is on a whole dissappointing ... Only high point in entertainment are the two songs - KANK title track and Where the Party Is Tonight [well party is in hotel where SRK - Rani are sleeping with each other]. The main problem is that KJO wanted to show how love can be found outside marriage despite having loving spouses at home. He never really could manage to show that . Rani got a longer role - but Preity was not short charged or anything. Infact both were hopelessely written characters - well all Rani got to do was cry cry and cry some more ... Thats it. Preity played a cold woman - absolutely cold - no emotion or bubbly or crying She did okay - well wasnt much to do anyways. And SRK the hammster just keeps hamming even more .... gurrrrrrrrr SRK really looked old - and in some scenes even Rani looked really old. Other than Preity - seems none of them got any make up artist for shooting
Why was Rani dissappointed with Abhishek?
Why was SRK pissed with Preity and also his son?
What was so good in either of them that Rani-SRK found solace in each other?
Those three questions were the most important cornerstones in the movie. The movie ended up all places without exploring anything above.
People say its not the usual Karan Johar movie - People say its a mature love story about situations. The problem is its neither. The first scene where SRK scores a goal and dives ala Beckham [he even has a tatoo called victory on his forearm - only it is in English unlikes Beckhams in Hindi] - I know this one is going to be the usual KJo movie. SRK-Rani scene on the bench does not match any of SRK-Kajol or SRK-Preity scenes in KKHH/ KHNH. The dialogues are low on substance and just written and spoken for the heck of it. And if you thought situations and fate was only in Ekta Kapoors serials - watch as SRK meets accident precisely when Rani’s maang is bharo with Sindoor by Abhishek. Ok - so what. It could still be a fantasy soft film. But movie does not go in that direction.
The motivation of SRK and Rani to be bad in their relationships is improperly explained, particularly Rani. Does she have a pent up feeling or angst [over what? her husband not discussing things? or not producing a baby - heard of baby adoption in a progressive film?]. Movie meanders all over the place till the song Rock and Roll Soniye. The sequence thereafter when SRK-Rani meet and try and impress their partners is handled well. However, abruptly they decide to be with each other and sleep with each other. The song Mitwa and Tum hi Dekho Naa followed one another [with interval in between] and could not be more mistimed and illogically placed. Here you are having individuals with 4 years and 9 years already in marriage singing and dancing like Suraj Hua Madham. Preity’s character and Abhishek’s character then try and get together to fix their marriages only for Amitabh Bachan to find out everything. The movie has a better second half but everything [including some of the dialogues and situations] have been lifted straight out of an Ekta Kapoor serial. Preity’s feministic trait is not explained properly either.
Karan generally sketches great roles for even small artists. Simone Singh, the kids, Farida Jalal, School Teacher, Kareena friends, Dadis and Nanis in K3G being a good example. Here, other than Abhishek Bachan he has faltered big time. He is trying too hard to impress and falls flat.