ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi

ABCD refers to South Asian Americans born and raised in the USA, in contrast to those who were born overseas and later settled in the USA.

Two spoiled young men: Johns, son of a billionaire, and his cousin Korah, whose mother left for Paris with her new husband, enjoy their luxurious life in NYC. After a disco fight, Johns's dad sends the boys to India for safety, telling them it's a vacation. But Dad blocks their credit cards, by which they must live and attend college through poverty. They tell their college mates they opted for this lifestyle to learn about their motherland. Their made up story gives them celebrity status and they become famous.

I thought it would be a good movie but it didn't appeal. Two rich spoilt brat are sent to Kerala to stay with minimum money by which they can sustain and learn something useful. But at the end it didn't make much of a difference and some things were unreal so didn't stand out. Lalu Alex is a legend actor and his performance is always great. Korah was funny. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this movie.

I had started this movie almost with no expectations since I had seen many political scenes involved in preview. Then the BGM fixed me to the seat. The story was fresh and made us wonder how better can it get,I was not a DQ fan, but this made me a die- hard one. About the acting DQ had done a very role of a playboy-Brat- type and Aparna as a matured-responsible- one. The script is brilliant . This movie showed a satirical part of politics in Kerala. Honestly speaking I had watched around 80 times and still didn't get bored . I'm sure everyone will just love this movie full of life and Zest . They should take more movies like this.

ABCD gives out a bad impression from its posters and trailer. But, it has more than meets the eye and I am transfixed with the base, the story and the plot.

Starting with the two lead brats, it goes on to tell you the tale of how they manage their lives in Kerala, India after being born and brought up in New York. What is surprising is that every thing they do is unpredictable. The viewers will predict something else and the next sequence will totally be different. That is the charm of ABCD in the first half. Second half takes a narrow political turn, but is funnier as well. Both halves wonderfully frame the current affairs in Kerala and how the people there need only an inkling to create brouhaha.

Performances are great. Jacob Gregory pulls it off very well and he is the funnier guy. Dulquer Salman acts over-cool, but he's okay. Lalu Alex is very sharp while the lead actress has equivocal stances. Music is catchy & apt but I have heard many of the tunes before. Score is inventive. Editing is fine, so is the direction.

The running time of 170 minutes makes us question the intentions of the makers, and with the climax so cold, it felt like it ended abruptly. I had expected a more unconventional turn of twists. But, overall, ABCD scores!

BOTTOM LINE: Fresh writing delivers chewable entertainment stuff.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Profanity: Strong | Nudity/Sex: No | Vulgarity: Mild | Violence: Strong | Gore: No | Smoking: Mild | Alcohol: Strong | Drugs: No