Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Yashraj Films know they have a set audience that will turn up and watch whatever they put in the cinemas. I've never known such loyalty towards a production house.

But JBJ will be a massive wake up call for all concerned. The film has its good moments and some worthy performances. But the overall product is nothing short of being a complete disaster. Fair enough the Director may have thought that he has come up with an ingenious idea, but sometimes certain ideas or thoughts are far better off staying within the confines of ones head, as they sound and look a lot better swirling around 'up there' than on a large screen.

The protagonists (Abhishek Bachchan and Priety Zinta) look unconvinced by their characters and the whole scenario. And despite Abhishek's best efforts, you almost end up hating both the main characters, purely because the film has bored you senseless by the time proceedings really begin. And by this I mean the introduction of the other two main characters (Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta) - this time in person rather than in the imaginary world of AB and PZ.

Bobby Deol does a very good job considering that he is offered very little in the way of screen time. He plays both his characters very well, in particular the mummy's boy. Lara Dutta is amazing and really puts Priety Zinta in the shade with her performance. Despite both BD and LD having peripheral parts in the film - they both, in my eyes, walk away with the honours as the most entertaining pair on screen.

Amitabh Bachchan is wasted and only appears every time they need to break the monotony of the main characters. He also appears in the dance competition to lend his support to a rather over long sequence.

Overall, JBJ offers very little in the way of a storyline. The treatment of the subject is what you expect of Yashraj films. But even they couldn't dress this weak subject up. DVD rental material at the most.

Reading through many of the reviews for "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom", I assumed that the film was 100% awful from start to finish. Well, I disagree--it's only partially awful. The first half is impossible to believe but is likable. The second half is truly horrible and all the good will I had early on vanished as the film continually assaulted my senses. Subtle and romantic are two words I'd never use to describe this film.

It all begins with a nice song and dance number by Amitabh Bachchan. He appears in the film periodically--though I have no idea why other than he's the father of the leading man in this film, Abhishek Bachchan. Oh well, I really enjoy seeing Amitabh and at least I got a few glimpses of him even though his character was ill-defined and vague.

Soon Rakesh (Abhishek Bachchan) bumps into a gorgeous woman, Alvira (Preity Zinta). They are waiting to greet someone arriving by train and it is late. So, they sit and begin talking. He talks at length about his fiancé and she does the same--though in reality both are unattached. This really made no sense nor did it make sense that Alvira would soon fall for Rakesh because he seemed so very obnoxious and full of himself. However, I have noticed that this is a BIG theme in a lot of Indian romances--the obnoxious pretty-boy--and it's a cliché I really hate. For me, you have to like people for the romance to work. Still, despite its flaws, I found the first half of the film watchable and interesting. It could have worked well.

Unfortunately, once the train arrives, the film is pretty dead. Both are in love with each other but don't know what to do since they'd been lying. Well, sadly, the same can be said for the writers as most of the final portion of the movie is set at a dance contest which totally assaults your senses. It's loud and looks like a 30 minute Indian music video and the costumer appears to have been Liberace!! It's tacky, loud and pointless.

By the time the end occurs and the inevitable occurs, you are exhausted and just want it to end. It's a shame, as the film was not horrible initially and had it been, I would have turned it off and saved myself from the second half! So, first half of the film I'd score a 5 and the last a 1. Overall, a score of 3 seems reasonable as I have seen quite a few movies (both Indian and non-Indian) that were worse....though not a lot worse.

By the way, I am shocked that the IMDb goof section didn't include this one. At one point, Alvira exposes the top of her left breast to show a tattoo. Later in the film it's moved to her right breast!!

I read in an Abhishek interview that when he was initially presented with the JBJ story idea (while shooting Bunty babli) it was set in a Delhi train station platform......i can just about imagine the charming scene. Abhishek and his heroine chatting over a cup of chai next to the tea stall. How did that potentially charming romantic tale turn into this over the top Bollywood film based in London? Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was an utter disappointment to me considering the same banner and director came out with the thoroughly entertaining Bunty Aur Babli. The movie felt like a 2hr long music video/ fashion show. I felt the person who would get the most mileage out of the movie would be the fashion designer/stylist of the movie which had a lot of outlandish costumes none more so than the attire of the Big B in the title song.

The first half felt awkward although there were a few funny moments thanks to the Lara and Abhishek. The movie picks up in the 2nd half but it was more due to the performances of the actors rather than the progression of the story. The actors did a relatively good job considering the weak script. I felt Lara Dutta and Bobby Deol were the standout performers from the movie as they had the opportunity to portray characters that had different shades to it. Lara was especially cute with the French accent and the potty mouth of the 2nd half. Bobby had some excellent comic moments in the 2nd half. Abhishek took a bit of a risk by playing such a loud character...he does go a bit over the top at times but I still think he is a good actor and he has his moments. For me Preity Zinta has been repeating herself in all her movies recently (except maybe Lakshya)...ever since Kal Ho Na Ho, she seems to be playing the same character over and over again i.e. an Indian who is either born and brought up abroad or living abroad. She too improves only in the 2nd half when she is not trying to put on an accent. There was not enough chemistry between the lead pair although you could see that they are buddies.

The music was excellent although Shaad Ali managed to drag all life out of the catchy title song since it pops up all over the film. The slow romantic number was also good.

I feel that Yash Raj films are catering more to the NRI crowd with their movies and subsequently took the soul out of this movie by presenting on this enormous scale.. you cant really blame them as it is a business and they need to recoup their costs.

The film has its moments but it is in no way anything more than an average product.

My 2 cents: This movie was highly recommended to me by a friend. He "sms'd" me the previous night and told me that it was an awesome movie... something that I should see the very next day. Taking his advice, another friend and I bought tickets at a "premium charge" (being newly released and all). Halfway through the movie, I wanted to tear my arm out and beat myself to death with it. The movie has an abysmal storyline. The intended "plot-twist" most moviegoers can predict when they are 30 mins into the movie. We stayed back after the intermission coz after all, a movie cannot be _that_ lame and boring.... Well, to our horror, it actually was. So USPs of the movie: 1) Lara Dutta looks hot 2) Nice song (only one... but after the 100 billionth repetition, it actually becomes really irritating) 3) Big B in a cool outfit.

Why you should not see this movie: 1) Extremely boring and slow. 2) Very lame jokes - courtesy small B. (Ash's man-toy) 3) Predictable storyline. 4) Big B needs to buy a ticket to Pluto and come back after a gazillion years... somebody needs to tell him about something called "OVER-EXPOSURE".

Conclusion: DO NOT SEE!

I can't understand that many people don't like the movie ....I think many peole didn't understand it..

You can sense the joy that went into the making of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom right from the time the title makes its appearance....Amitabh has a great cameo, Abhishek is different but good too - Preity is always beautiful...in this one i like here better than KANK...Lara and Bobby are great ..I've always like this couple...but I was surprised that i enjoy Bobby's play most...

he plays this character with a lightness...and I have really enjoy it when he was on screen...have wait all time that he appears...

I can only say go watch it!!!! ...it is different Bollywood but thats good ....can only say very Entertaining Movie...don't listen to the reviews ...last but not least you will enjoy it..