Go Goa Gone Reviews! (member reviews start pg 10) - Page 5

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Zombies were originally designed in American films as a dark comment on a consumerist culture that forces people to live no differently from infectious, blood-sucking humans anyway. Over-burdened, tired of politicking office employees who can't tell day from night are often considered zombies for a reason. Though the film makes little of that sub-text, the three friends here are cubicle coolies.

One of them, Bunny, is hard-working (Anand Tiwari, outstanding). Of the other two, the cool cat is called Hardik (Kunal Khemu), which for a name is the worst crime any Hindu parent can commit on their unsuspecting infants. Luv (Vir Das) is supposed to be loveless. But basically both are junkies. They could form a "Bharatiya Joint Party", which I suppose would resist a film with as many anti-smoking/anti-drug messages as this one. The dudes drag the good boy in their group to a rave in an isolated island in Goa. People at the party pop designer pills. By morning Goa is pretty much gone. Everyone in the secluded island – except for these buddies (who I guess couldn't afford the drugs), and a hot girl – turns into a hungry zombie.

Almost all these zombies appear to be foreigners, most of them seem white, which isn't odd for a Goa rave. It probably also gives the filmmakers a chance to subtly pay homage to other zombies they've met in Brit or American movies. Better known ones have been spotted in films like Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (2002), Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead (1981), The Evil Dead 2 (1987)… Hard-core fanatics of the genre, unlike me, could offer you far more reccos. Directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (together credited here as Raj & DK) are best known for Shor In The City (2011), which was a stunning, exhilarating portrait of Bombay. It probably still survives in public memory for a lilting track 'Saibo'. The soundtrack here sounds even better.

Clearly music is not on the lead characters' minds at this point. Only 'Barees', a desi, Delhi druglord with a thick Russian twang can save the boys and girl with his assortments of knives and bazookas. Saif Ali Khan plays this hilarious part. For a mainstream Bollywood star, this couldn't have been an easy call. It could widen Indian movie choices. Among the uninitiated, Bollywood has forever been known to be some sort of a song and dance genre of its own. Though I really can't remember the last time I saw a man and a woman dance around trees in a Hindi film. You do here. The song is softly romantic. The woman's a zombie. You can both laugh at that moment, and laugh with it. There is a thin line that separates the two. This film somehow always manages to stay on each side. Either way, if you go with the flow, you will end up having lots of f

Review: Go Goa Gone has effervescent and effortless performances

The dialogue is urban, contemporary and very current. The writers definitely have a pulse on what's hot at the moment and create the right moments between their characters.

Film: Go Goa Gone
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Puja Gupta, Anand Tiwari
Director: Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK
Rating: ***1/2

Zombies have taken over pop culture. Vampires and spirits are not popular anymore. Be it TV shows (The Walking Dead)or motion pictures (World War Z), the lifeless creatures are everywhere. Bollywood joins the rank, with a commercial masala potboiler set in Goa using zombies as their central theme.

Hardik (Kunal), Luv (Vir) and Bunny (Anand) are three friends who land up in Goa to get away from the humdrum of their mediocre lives. Little do they know what this trip has in store for them.

After attending a rave party where luminous red pills turn every living person into a zombie, they are stranded on an island full of the walking dead. Things take an interesting turn when they bump into Russian zombie killer Boris (Saif) who ends up being one of the zaniest characters of recent times.

There is ample blood, gore, stabbing, shooting, brains being blown up, arms amputated, to make you squirm if you aren't familiar with the genre. But all of this is presented in a fun, satirical format that never takes itself too seriously. Even though these characters are in a life threatening scenario, you will find yourself laughing at their sorry state.

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK do a fantastic job with the visuals and styling very frame with enough colour and cheekiness to take on their audience by the horns and engage them from the very beginning. The pace is solid and rarely falters, except towards the sketchy climax which is the films biggest flaw.

Zombies are all about their walk. Yes, the tissue exposing face and lifeless eyes are important, but it's their signature move that makes them stand out from their evil counterparts. Kudos to the directors for going the extra mile and making every single actor in the frame master that walk.

The dialogue is urban, contemporary and very current. The writers definitely have a pulse on what's hot at the moment and create the right moments between their characters.

Vir, Kunal and Anand are distinctly different from each other, and that is what keeps you interested till the very end. Performances are effervescent and effortless. Kunal Khemu is at home playing the flirtatious Hardik whose 'Jai Hind' salute to his God will stay with you even after the film ends. There's no denying his on screen charm, but what impresses is his perfect timing and jugalbandi with his co-star Vir Das who is a professional stand up artist.

Puja Gupta has some witty one liners and she goes all out to prove their more to her than her accentuated figure. Anand Tiwari and Vir Das play their parts like they stage actors who know when to drop those punches. It is a stellar ensemble, but the scene stealer is Saif Ali Khan who will have you in splits with his Boris act. Even when the accent and the props wear out, Saif never stops delivering the goods. The soundtrack blends is in sync with the mood of the film. Full marks to the make up artists for giving the zombies their signature look.

Only if the second half and especially the climax had been better fleshed out, the film would have been exceptional. Right in the middle, you get that feeling in your gut, "how will they wrap up this freak show?", and it isn't an easy task giving all that madness some method.

Go Goa Gone is a drug that takes you on that high, but wears off soon enough before you start tripping.