Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

This should have been a pleasant family film. Unfortunately, some adult content including bikini clad babes preclude it from being suitable for young children, while adults will be bored by the tedious storytelling and listless acting. Both Amisha Patel and Saif Ali Khan phone in their performances. Rani makes a game effort and is indeed watchable. The kids are decent, but a tad too polished in their dialog delivery. Some of their emotions felt plastic. The film drags on and on including an unnecessary sojourn to the America. Watchable for kids and bored adults with nothing else to do.

Overall 4/10

The film started off really interesting but gets more boring as it continues. The simple story was told well at the first 20 minutes but dragged very badly until the end. The whole movie was so predictable that it felt like that I've already seen it about 10 times although I've only seen it once. It reminded me of 3 films: Mary Poppins, Nanny McPhee and Hum Hai Rahi Pyaar Ke staring Aamir Khan. So it also lacks originality. The music isn't even good and the only catchy song is Lazy Lamhe. It is directed by Kunal Kohli and all of his films are rubbish except Fanaa. He is definitely overrated and I'm glad that Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic flopped at box office. The Lazy Lamhe song was so daft because Amisha Patel was singing underwater.

Simplistic in its premise and basic in its treatment, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is what you could call a 'by-the-book' children's film. It's predictable every step of the way, but it's still an easy watch because the kids at the centre of this story are so endearing, they suck you into their story even though their story itself doesn't throw up any surprises. The gags are old-fashioned, and the special effects rather ordinary, but despite the shortcomings the film works because it's never contrived. Sure it tends to get preachy at times, but Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic has its heart in the right place. And in this age of such mindless children's entertainment as violence-themed videogames and comedies filled with sexual innuendo, a simple good-natured morality tale is not such a bad thing after all. What Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic could have done without, is that inappropriate Lazy Lamhe song with the camera lingering lovingly on Ameesha Patel's every curve. Also the film overstays its welcome when it drudges on for a good 15 minutes after the kids have resolved their issues with Ranbir Talwar. The romantic track between Ranbir and Geeta seems obligatory at best, and it doesn't help that Saif and Rani have zero chemistry together. In director Kunal Kohli's Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, four kids who have lost their parents in a road accident are packed off to live with the man responsible for their parents' death. Saif Ali Khan plays Ranbir Talwar the hard-nosed businessman who opens his home to the kids, but can't seem to reach out to them emotionally. Of the cast, Rishi Kapoor is wasted as the Lord up there, saddled with a role he can't seem to make head nor tail of, drifting through his lines mechanically. Heaven too, seems like an odd place, populated as it is by angels who behave more like witches, bickering and bitching each other out. Surprise, surprise, Amisha Patel is spot-on as Ranbir's bimbo girlfriend, stealing every scene that she's in. Meanwhile, Rani Mukherji as Geeta is surprisingly a little out of form. But that has more to do with her poorly written role than it does with Rani's at-best-satisfactory performance. It's a shame, the writers fail to exploit the actress' natural charm and invest some of that charm into her role. Saif Ali Khan slips naturally into the role of the nostril-flaring Ranbir Talwar. Saif invests sincerity in his character, making him vulnerable and endearing. But Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is about the children, and the actors in those roles perform exceptionally. All four kids play their parts convincingly, and for a film about kids pestering the living daylights of a grown man, surprisingly you never once want to wring their necks. Of the four child actors, I have to single out little Rachit Sidana who plays Sardar kid Iqbal – he is so adorable, so fragile, your heart goes out to him spontaneously. Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic is not great cinema, but it's a completely watchable children's film. As a movie it's just about average, but bonus points for the kids who keep your interest alive throughout.This one's strictly for the kids, it's an enjoyable one-time watch, you won't complain.

The Story and direction is by Kunal Kohli who used to be Film Critic before he started wielding his own megaphone. The Story if original or borrowed is purely poignant. Now the Cast-Saif Ali Khan is a great actor but he is so overworked he probably does't even know which set, what scene or what emotion to portray. He goes thru the film with an "attitude" or a fixed demeanor that is becoming very familiar. Where as Rani gives one hundred percent of herself. The kids have a good potential, specially the kid that plays the older girl. The Scene with God and Angels sitting around is immaculately done with some great camera work and sets. Rishi Kapoor is "God"-a part that Amitab Bachchan used to have firm grip on, But Kapoor, is good whether he is playing "God" or a mere mortal. The movie has some week moments like the pool escapade. What was the point in this? was this in the Angel's job description? I wonder. The San Diego excursion even though approved by the Judge, kind of diluted the proceedings that otherwise had a homely feeling to it. All said and done this is good movie with some terrific words of wisdom and few lessons to learn. Rani, was portraying an Angel...but her acting was down-to-earth and saved Saif..Kunal...and Yash Raj Films.

The last film from Yashraj, "Tashan," had sent shivers down my spine and made me think that this company had finally run out of good ideas – result was that it was a massive flop. But with this one, I have managed to regain some faith in the films that Yashraj is now releasing.

The country's top industrialist and loner (not his will as he loses everyone he loves), causes a car accident in which parents of four children are killed. At the end of the hearing, the judge, instead of sentencing the industrialist, orders him to take care of the dead couple's children. However, the four children have other plans in mind.

Directed and written by the "Hum Tum" director, Kunal Kohli, the movie stars Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Amisha Patel and Rishi Kapoor and is produced by Aditya Chopra.

The story, though well written and directed, does have echoes of Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins," which starred Julie Andrews in a similar but not quite the same, role as the one portrayed by Rani Mukherjee. There are chances that she will probably receive an award for this role, if not then, she is in a very good position for a nominee. Saif, on the other hand, has also handled his role very well. But I must say that it was a change to see Rishi Kapoor in a complete different role.

Conclusion: A good family entertainer that can be watched with kids.