ROCKSTAR Reviews - ALL REVIEWS POST HERE - Page 52

Rockstar – Fails to Rock but OK by Indian Standards

The best we can say about Rockstar is that we didn't throw up and sully the movie hall as we unfailingly do after watching Bollywood films like Bodyguard or Dum Maro Dum.

As is to be expected of 99.9% of Indian films, Rockstar too is a romance.

But this one's covered in the garb of an aspiring music lover's journey to rockstar.

Unless you've been hiding under some desi rock eating stale Diwali Ladoos, you know Rockstar features Ranbir Kapoor and the sexy Paki-American-Czech kitten Nargis Fakhri.

And that the movie is written and directed by Imtiaz Ali (of Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal fame) with music by the peerless A.R.Rahman.

Ranbir's Film

Only the dimmest of dimwits would deny that Ranbir Kapoor is the best young actor in India today.

Hey, in our not-so-humble opinion Ranbir makes even a budda like Amitabh Bachchan, with over four decades in the business, look like a bachcha.

Of course, the best part of Rockstar is Ranbir.

The fella rocks.

As the young aspiring musician, as the friendly college-student, as the lover-boy and ultimately as the completely out-of-control Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor brings life, a ton of life to the film.

If you haven't heard by now, Ranbir Kapoor plays the role of a young Jim Morrison wannabe Janardhan Jakhar deeply passionate about music, gets friendly with the most beautiful girl in the college, falls in love with her, becomes a rockstar and finally (does he get the girl or not?).

When he's not busy with any of the above, out JJ aka Jordan is engaging in a lot of self-destructive activities.

Weak Links

The movie's weakest link is director Imtiaz Ali's less-than-impressive story.

Not only is it hopelessly unconvincing but it drags on in the second half.

Mercifully, we didn't get the happy-ending that is de rigeur in Indian films.

Sad, the recently departed Shammi Kapoor, in what was likely his last film, was wasted because of poor writing by Imtiaz Ali and makes no impact whatsoever.

Music Hype

Now, don't you schmucks believe all the hype about the music.

It doesn't rock but Rahman has done more than an adequate job.

We bet there's not a single Indian among the 1.2 billion desi mosquitoes that's not listened to Saadda Haq.

For the most part, the picturizations of the songs too were decent.

Hey, What about the Babe?

Ah, now for Rockstar's heroine Nargis Fakhri.

The girl oozes sex appeal, class and grace, three elements missing in the Priyankas, Kareenas, Aishwaryas, Katrinas, Deepikas etc of Bollywood.

Nargis' good luck was to jump from riding the E, F or 7 train in Queen's to heroine in a high-profile Bollywood movie likeRockstar.

Nargis' bad luck was to be paired opposite an actor of Ranbir Kapoor's caliber.

Pitted against Ranbir, even Nargis' best efforts would be found wanting. And it is.

While not as bad as the hideous trinity of Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra or Deepika Padukone, Nargis Fakhri still has ways to go in the acting department.

But SI has strong confidence that this white desi American babe will do us proud in her next movie. No, Nargis hasn't promised to go down on us although if she asked we'd …….

By the way, we found the supporting cast of Kumud Mishra, Piyush Mishra and Shernaz Patel impressive, very impressive.

Overall, SearchIndia.com recommends Rockstar to all ye chutiyas since there's nothing else to do this weekend.

In any case with the Hollywood movies, Immortals, Jack and Jill and J.Edgar getting shafted by the critics, all ye NRI chutiyas have little choice.

Go watch Ranbir in Rockstar. The movie is playing in several theaters across America (including at many Regal and AMC halls in the NJ/NY area).