Syrup

On the surface, Syrup has an interesting enough premise as it explores the competitive and deceptive world of advertisement. However, whenever this movie started to get interesting, it would always do something to kill the tension. Most of this can be due to the fact that there are really two plots. The story of Scat trying to make it big and Scat's love story with Six. The problem is these two stories don't work well together, and whenever the film switches its focus, the movie suffers. This, in part, could be attributed to the fact that Six is a rather flat character. I can appreciate trying to keep her mysterious, but since we never know her motivation (or if what she says was her motivation at the end was true), it's hard to connect with her character. Furthermore, the characters kept trying to explain the plot to the audience, and while this information was interesting, it didn't add a lot to the story or the characters. I do have to say there were some great one-liners. Also, Brittany Snow's was great as Three. Although her appearance in the film is rather short, I think the character had a lot of potential, and her scenes were some of the best in the film. I would have loved to see her and Six go head to head. Sadly this isn't a movie where women get to be complex. Really no one is too complex in this film. In the end, this is probably one of those stories that is better as a book.

Just knowing the concept of this movie was about marketing and the psychology and thought process behind getting into the consumer's head and trying to sell your product to them had me extremely intrigued and eager to watch the movie.

First off the movie has some great points where the explanation of the marketing concepts are explained and shown, this is what I really enjoyed about the whole experience of watching the movie. Also the corporate intrigue with betrayals and the stealing of ideas perhaps delves into the real word. Amber heard is also extremely good looking in the film :P

Unfortunately the drama and romance they tried to put in the film although well fitting was executed horribly. At one point in the film Scat, the male main character asks the female main character, Six, whether she loves him or not. I had no inclination that she had those feelings for him except that she asked him to sleep in her bed instead of the couch beforehand. The reason I was lead to believe that is because they had had minimal positive interactions together.

The movie also has lots of cuts which cut out the reinforcement of what Amber Heard's character does. It is to sell stuff to the senior members of a firm. We hardly see any of that which means she is only there for her beauty which is great but the romance is horrible.

I also believe Scat looks like a total ******bag even though the character is suppose to be a genius guy who occasionally does stupid things. Of course my opinion and assumption.

Overall great concept, the romance and drama could have been done much better in my opinion. Watch it for the marketing concepts, don't expect much from the drama and romance department because that had me wanting to stop watching half way through the movie and it is only 90 minutes long.

Ahhhh IMDb reviewers what is wrong with you people. I sat down to this after reading the reviews (5.5 average) and thought maybe its just another romcom flam which will fill in the evening, it will be nothing much.

But what I got was an original storyline and an engaging non cloned romcom I never seen before which zinged with ideas and concepts which I am still thinking about 2 days later, that is very rare with films these days.

As the film went the main protagonists have a great on screen chemistry, the story is an in-depth look at shallow marketing and it does that brilliantly. I really don't have to say more.

People have a look at this film and don't trust the reviewers who have read the book. I am sure the book is better, but as a standalone film this is very enjoyable. I have just bought another of the authors books as I am eager for more of his views of this time we live in.

That's because every person involved with marketing should give it a try. A celluloid pool of genius, marketing, competition & stereotype.

The movie starts off great succeeding in creating ample suspense to hook our bottoms onto the seat. Then, it approaches genius with the lead characters showing average diligence to a somewhat good book. Screenplay is a marvel just like the music is beat. Cinematography impressed me mostly because the details were kept at bay and what matters (humour & dialogs) are highlighted.

The story, as a whole, wasn't new to me, but since it is an adaptation, I loved the 'plot.' And with the inclusion of love, sex (not much) or romance, the recipe smelled good but has ounces of sourness in it. Creating gigantic levels of deep meaning concepts, non-ambiguity, establishing marketing mantra by keeping the stereotype strong... in tandem, Syrup works for most of its part due to the sharp oration, execution & pleasurable narrative with texts and inklings. Flashbacks, pencil-drawn-animation, in-advertisements, secrets, serious competition portrayals & slapstick are the chief points.

What it lacks is an unequivocal climax. Well, it might seem tangible for a story with so curvy structure, but as an entertainer, the comedy-drama stumbles halfway into the second part, corrupts into vagueness, obliterates some of its half-baked characters & alludes hackery. However, it will be a ice-cream sherbet for marketing guys.

BOTTOM LINE: A heavy 6.9/10 for the different style of storytelling & a palpable experience. Give it a try, you may like it! This is a type of movie which puts you in a dilemma - whether to spend few bucks & watch it once or wait for sometime & own it forever.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

MESSAGE: Competitions are for sissies. And when love is involved, you better watch it out on who surpasses & who quits.

Profanity: Mediocre | Sex: Very Mild | Nudity: No | Mouth-Kiss: Mild | Violence: No | Gore: No | Smoking: Strong | Alcohol: Mild | Drugs: Mediocre | Vulgarity: No

This one tries to be cool, slick and witty. But it just comes off as dumb and superficial. Sure that maybe the point of this flick, but not when you don't believe what the narrator has to say most of the way through. This movie has problems with what it tries to make fun of. It's all style and image, but has no substance or intelligence to it. Although not believable but at least it starts out somewhat intriguing, but quickly loses it's flare and just becomes redundant. It's like watching a fairy tale version of the marketing world, which is fine but like I said this movie is boring. The humor is flat and just about everything about it is forgettable, including the dis-likable main characters. In another words it tries to create a image of it being professional, but underneath it all it's amateurishly done. At the end of it all, nothing seems to be resolved and far from it being satisfying.

3/10