In the past 8 years, we got films like Farhan Akthar’s DIL CHAHTA HAI and LAKSHYA to portray the hero as a lazy bum who has no aim in life, but end up becoming okay in the end. Specifically, Aamir Khan from DCH is a aimless guy until he starts to take it seriously with his father’s business while Hrithik’s character in Lakshaya jumps the army bandwagon because his friend does so. In the end, he becomes a militant hero among his peers and his girlfriend. Oh and toss in the "special beta treatment" sentiment from Taare Zameen Par because once you see Wake Up Sid, you know it’s a poor rehash of both films. Ayan Mukherji(Rani’s so called anna) epically failed.
What went okay: The treatment. Barring the resemblence to DCH’s opening title song and the Joharistic gags being thrown in("The fat person who’s supposed to be cute in character", the spunky supposed girlfriend, the "dost" who second in lead because he’s supposed to be, the baap who had a shitty past and doesn’t want to repeat history with his son while spoiling him, the disco-kisko scenes, maa ka pyaar, etc.) the film becomes bearable. The same could be said with Shankar-Eshaan-Loy’s score. The title track, Aaj Kal Zindagi and Kya Karoon were my picks. The first half spoiled me because I first thought, wow, Karan Johar for ONCE had PRODUCED a GOOD flick rather than a shitty one like DOSTANA.
What ruined it: Again, when Karan Johar is producer and his trustee [Niranjan] Iyengar(dialogues) dost are in charge, expect an abundant cliche of gags. From the opposite sex dialogues to baap ka dost ka beti scenes to wow, dating is common now let’s go clubbing yaar to I can make my own food without searching through recipes through my pimped up laptop that’s been occuping space throughout this lame film to having introducing single ladies trying to be young and "in-crowd" for the first time. No he didn’t mention it but Johar being the cliche-master, had Kashmira Shah do her milf part. Remember that annoying "aunty-aunty" sentiment from DOSTANA? Also, Amit Trivedi’s song "Iktara"only bores the audience and leaves us in further frustration. The crowd near me was basically laughing and talking loud during the film’s pace and that abundant track further proves my point. At this point, the film becomes a poor mega-serial from Star Vijay.
Next the casting. Ranbir Kapoor is truthfully surviving the industry thanks to his great gramps. But he is sadly being typecast and only doing roles that off a similar as of late. Be it the snoozefest lover in SAAWARIYA, the playboy type in his last, BACHNA AEY HASEENO(which coincidently is what WAKE UP SID is ditto copy off mostly.) As if he was born with great actors in his khandaan. Don’t get me started with that bimbo Kareena or Karishma. Konkona is also another victim of typecasting. She hasn’t done any role that differs from this. LUCK BY CHANCE ring any bells? She basically sleepwalks the film with her typical stereotype dialogue delivery. Director saab, please kindly explain what the hell is Akshaye Khanna’s NRI Bhai doing in this slow and boring film.
I used to think that Hindi films were watchable, but now I might have to think again. It only further brings in the idea that Stupidity and Plagiarism will prevail. Just look at the ass*oles we have to put up with: SRK, Salman Khan, Aamir("I market to sell") Khan, The Kapoor khandaan, and so on. But with South bred up versatile talents like Kamal Haasan, Prakash Raj, and Priyadarsan, along with their National Award successes(the recent Kanchivaram wins), gives only more farce to the North Indians and their crappy films.
Wake Up Sid should be titled Wake Up Director. Else, go wake yourself up from this nightmare and head out from the theater/room.