If anyone’s idea of a fun and frolic filled Sunday afternoon is to munch popcorn and watch a terminal cervical cancer patient loose a big bunch of her graying hair day by day, and watch her family of three small, emotionally drained kids sob out the rest of her days in misery, then go for this movie.
If anybody’s idea of romance is a pair of lovebird’s abandoning each other out of pity for a dying mom, then this movie is for them.
If anybody assumes Karan Johar still has some spark of movie making left in him, then this movie ‘s certainly for that dying breed of Karan Johar’s believers. Karan Johar after a spate of failed attacks on the box office, conceded defeat and opted for the safest approach of remaking a Hollywood hit, ostensibly to tread in the footsteps of someone who successfully remade ‘3 Men And A Baby’. Alas, all that ‘Coffee With Karan’ and doing master of ceremonies for filmfre awards, and partying has left our Karan baby intellectually exhausted and spiritually bereft of any talent whatsoever – and he couldn’t even copy straight. Elsewhere on this site I have suggested Karan should quit making movies and become a loser critic like me on MouthShut.Com, but my advice has not been heeded – no wonder, since I myself don’t care to follow it. At least I don’t have to make a living out of making movies or criticizing them, unlike Karan – therefore I feel truly blessed.
This movie celebrates motherhood; it’s an ode to a dying perfect mother. So without doubt it appeals to a certain section of the populace, which any moron can guess: mothers. It should ideally have released around Mothers Day, or Childrens Day – depending on how you look at these things. and earned a entertainment tax rebate too – there being no entertainment. Towards the end, after an hour and a half of emotional apathy, the movie suddenly turns melodramatic without any warning, and with this surprise maneuver, manages to extricate bucketfuls of the tears of unsuspecting mothers tottering on the brink of somnambulant, blasé melancholy in the hall. Most of the audience seemed extremely restless during the movie, and my teenage son was fidgeting so much, I had to handcuff him to the seats to stop him from kicking the man in front. I myself checked my mail on my blackberry and chatted with many long lost friends during the institutionalized crying and wailing that went about.
This movie is a remake of ‘Stepmom’*, and involves serial step motherly treatment to the original!
Rampal is divorced from Kajol who brings up their brood of three children of doubtful pedigree. Kareena is living in with Rampal, who wants to bring Kareena close to his kids so that they can accept her later if he marries her( no commitments, see, smart guy). Initially Kajol and kids hate Kreena coz they fear she will take Rampal away from them. Kajol struggles with her insecurities, her jealousies( of sharing Rampal with a broad with decidedly much better cleavage), and of course her cancer. When the end of Kajol is near, the three enter into a very broadminded arrangement of polygamy, wherein Kareena moves in with Kajol and Rampal and the kids, so that the kids can have a smooth transition to a new mom. Wow! It’s all about Kajol and the sacrifices we all make for our children. How convenient. The ending is pathetic and the young cute angels turn out into ugly ducklings, whereas Kareena becomes more exotic as she ages and marries off Kajol’s progeny. Very awkward indeed, but you don’t expect Kareena to sport grey in her hair for one movie, do you.?
Verdict – mothers may grab the movie with a bagful of tissues. The rest of you – drop them at the gates and pick them up later after a large number of fortifying gins and tonics.