Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl

Expectations - If you have watched "Band Baaja Baaraat" then you can't even think to miss Ladies V/S. Ricky Bahl. Ranveer-Anushka chemistry, Ranveer's charm and killer looks, Anushka's smart and stylish acting skills, superb music by Salim-Sulaiman and Maneesh Sharma's smart and entertaining direction skills which comes in a "Yash Raj Films" brand-mark - everything was back again in this movie. The stylish promos, Ranveer-Anushka's "Thug Le" music video & that promising comeback feel - everything raised people's expectations much much higher. Frankly, I was extremely keen for LVRB as I liked BBB very very very much. That movie delivered much freshness in Rom-Coms released in Bollywood.

LVRB is a smart-tale from start to end which can be called "Classy" in a word. But still an inspiration from a very famous movie "John Tucker Must Die (2006)". But some usual changes do take place as the story of this movie is written by Aditya Chopra. So, the romantic and emotional parts are much tighter here.

As the story unfolds from start to last, Dimple (Parineeti Chopra) falls for a gym-trainer Sunny Singh who cons his dad and flees away that instant. Next we see Raina (Dipannita Sharma), a hard-working, successful corporate woman who is conned by Deven Shah. Then both of them come to know that Saira (Aditi Sharma), a simple, hard working widow was also conned by Iqbal Khan. They figure out that Sunny, Deven & Iqbal are the same person. Who Is He? Meet Ricky Bahl (Ranveer Singh) - a lady-charmer, a perfect conman whose only motive is nothing but money.

Raina, Dimple & Saira plans to track down Ricky through Ishika Desai (Anushka Shrma), a young and ambitious Goa by conning Ricky and get their money back. The Ultimate Showdown begins is Goa....

Director Maneesh Sharma handles some moments perfectly like The Dimple story, Ranveer's entry and much more. A Smart script is noticed in the whole movie. But he disappoints much as one expected another BBB from him. But many qualities that BBB had lacks entirely in the movie. Entertainment quotient, 'Jhallipan' in lead actors, Ranveer was charming but not the BITTOO SHARMA that justified him, Anushka also looked much sour. Music By Salim-Sulaiman is as usual top notch. Tracks like "AADAT SE MAJBOOR" & "JAZBA" works perfect, "FATAL ATTRACTION" was awesome & "THUG LE" was the show stealer for its mind-boggling choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant. Aseem Mishra's cinematography was fine as GOA was mostly captured in the movie. Habib Faisal's dialogs lacked confidence and spice.

We have seen Ranveer Singh in on of the most liked characters ever that was BITTO SHARMA. Ranveer's role is LVRB was totally opposite of it. Special Charm, Smartness & classy attitudes were the main ingredients of this role which Ranveer gave much justice to. Ranveer can now be easily called as one of the finest heroes appeared at recent times. He is undoubtedly the Show-stealer in all respects. Anushka Shrama (better known as 'Tani Partner' or 'Shruti Kakkar') evolves even more as an leading lady through this movie. Her acting was convincing, confident, ambitious and lacked dullness. The pair of Ranveer-Anushka is the winner of this movie.

We see a new talent coming up through this movie which is Parineeti Chopra (Priyanka Chopra's Cousin). Her role was total "Jhalli" and she carried it out perfectly. Bravo! Dipannita Sharma was perfect as a no-nonsense corporate woman. Aditi Sharma was fine but natural. Shireesh Sharma, father of Dimple in the movie was fine.

Finally, Ladies Vs. Ricky Bahl doesn't disappoint. What disappoints is Maneesh Sharma's promising comeback. Band Baaja Baaraat was one of the best movies of last year while LVRB is a decent fare. Ranveer and Anushka's deadly chemistry and performances by lead actors try a lot to abolish the flaws of the movie but it failed to convince the audiences who came to watch another fun-flick like Band Baaja Baaraat. The conning episodes, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, both of them together, the romantic portions and climax works for a big time, but still the movie lacked 'unforgettable' moments and freshness. Watch If You've Nothing Better To Do!

After three films under the Yash Raj banner, Anushka Sharma returns to the fold with her fifth film to date, reuniting with director Maneesh Sharma and co-star Ranveer Singh in what would be his second outing after their successful pairing and collaboration in Band Baaja Baaraat which turned out to be a sleeper hit last year, scoring nominations and awards for the filmmaker and his cast alike. Seeking to repeat that success, it unfortunately repeated what Hollywood had done with John Tucker Must Die with a trio of ladies plotting revenge over a guy, but over here it's not to get even because their hearts got broken, but more to get even because of the money he had swindled from them.

And to do so, they band together to hire a glib tongue who can out-con the con man himself, which is where Anushka Sharma sashays her way into the film only at the hour mark, being that perfect brains and beauty combination to exact revenge for her employers against someone who is falling dangerously for her, and vice versa, compromising the situation at hand especially when such risky undertakings involving money, deals and counter-deals may jolly well tempt one against one's original intent, and loyalty. Anushka played her role of a salesgirl turned fake hotel heiress as bait to perfection, this being her second con game role after the stint in Badmaa$h Company, calling for that level of confidence and vulnerability, and sharing that believable chemistry with Ranveer Singh once again, and if gossip rags are right up your alley then it's of little surprise this happens to be so. Ranveer on the other hand has a number of avatars to live up to as the titular suave conman who cheats on women as a game,

The first half is where the story patiently built itself up, giving ample time for Ranveer's other co-stars to show what they can do. Priyanka Chopra's cousin Parineeti Chopra makes her debut here as a student whose blind loyalty to and puppy love for her fitness trainer boyfriend Sunny Singh (Ranveer) made her the youngest and the easiest of targets. Dipannita Sharma as Raina is that ruthless businesswoman who strives to succeed at all costs, and her pride being punctured when art dealer Deven Shah (Ranveer again) sold her a renowned fake painting, and widower Saira (Aditi Sharma) got duped into believing the shy Iqbal Khan (Ranveer once more) comes with an honest heart in wanting trade in textiles with her family. To each of the girl scorned and to battle for their honour and money, they find each other by chance and plot to get their money back. And that's where Anuhka's Ishika Desai comes in.

Did I mention this film requires a stretch of believability, because there's always that ample opportunity for a more thorough research being done by the characters involving background checks and legal documentation since the con they get themselves engaged in hinges very much on contracts and valuation, unless one can blame inexperience, and going up against one of the most successful conmen meant some facts can possibly be glossed over. That aside, the narrative unfortunately sagged in the second half when a spanner gets thrown in the works, and while Anushka and Ranveer may look good together on screen, it's the journey of getting there where you'd expect their characters to fall in love coming too abruptly as if in a rush for time.

Still, the themes are still top notch for a romantic film, touching on regret and that one shouldn't see lonely women as marks to get into a seduction game, that the price of being conned of cash is one aspect of being hurt, but the emotional scars left behind are something else possibly more potent altogether. That, and the value of trust and one's word, how easily that can be broken way easily than to build up on. There's also a subtle jab at all things branded, when they can be easily replicated with a little bit of skill and help, having humbler items pass off as the real thing, in a way making a statement against all things ostentatious. The songs are all contemporary and catchy, but largely forgettable once you step out of the hall, while costumes and dresses just show why Anushka Sharma is quite the clotheshorse.

Yash Raj Films may be looking to strike gold again with the direction and pairing of Anushka and Ranveer, but the truth is an equally compelling script is paramount to exploit their natural chemistry to the fullest. Ladies vs Ricky Bahl was quite the roller coaster ride narratively, and it's really thanks to the leading actors' chemistry that saved the film from becoming a downer, keeping it afloat and coasting along without surpassing expectations. But it's a must for fans of Band Baaja Baaraat hungry to see both Anushka and Ranveer on screen together again.

'Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl' is A Decent Entertainer, that works in parts. The First-Hour is quite entertaining, but the Second-Hour isn't really arresting. However, it's a film that will pass your time.

'Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl' Synopsis: A charismatic fraudster who cons ladies for a living finally meets his match when a bunch of his conquests form an equally crafty plan.

'Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl' has a winning first-hour, which is full of entertaining moments. The 1st chapter is engaging, the 2nd chapter is fair, while the 3rd chapter is quick yet effective. The problem with this film, starts in it's second-hour. The entire thing of getting back to the Con-Man to teach him a lesson, is not that entertaining. Even the climax for that matter, looks superficial. Aditya Chopra's Story is watchable, but not memorable. Maneesh Sharma's Direction is good. Cinematography & Editing are passable. Music by Salim-Sulaiman, is energetic.

Performance-Wise: Ranveer Singh is impressive. The actor performs his part with confidence from start to end. Anushka Sharma enters the scene late, yet does a fair job. Parineeti Chopra makes a terrific debut. Her comic-timing is just perfect. Dipannita Sharma is appropriate. Aditi Sharma is nicely restrained. Others lend support.

On the whole, 'Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl' is, at best, a time-pass fare, that works in parts.

So girls n guys, get ready for another crap from Bollywood..."Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl"...title of course sounds energetic and full of fun, but believe me movie is a complete sh!t...so predictable and dumb story, almost looks like a sequel of DHOOM-2...well, i was expecting a lot from the director Manish Sharma that he'll give a good watchable product like BBB but all expectations were flushed away completely...leaving 2-3 scenes, whole movie was a garbage, even the cuteness and killer looks of Ranveer can't save this movie.

Poor story-line with thousands of plot holes, poor direction, bad songs, average music, bad acting and poor characterizations of lead characters...u'll always be expecting something gr8 to happen but please let me remind u, u r watching a Bollywood flick...CINEMATOGRAPHY and EDITING was mind blowing but in India WHO CARES about technical aspects.

TOTAL FARJIWAADA guys...in sweet n simple words, please ignore this cr@p.

Team-BBB (Band Bajaa Baraat) clearly had an advantage with their first outing. Yashraj films were at its lowest ebb which translated the expectations to sub-zero. When the winning combo decided to strike again, the sky-high expectations ended up working against it.

What works?

Ѻ Well written conning portions. Bollywood has generally witnessed scarcity in on this genre, Mr. Sampat and Mr. Natwarlal in the past and Bluffmaster and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! in the recent come to my mind.

Ѻ Ranveer Singh - Undoubtedly he is the one who has what it takes to carry the mantle forward.

Ѻ Anushka Sharma - Seamless performance. A word of advice to the leading ladies of 90's who are toying the idea of returning from sabbatical. You quit when you were ahead of the game, so stay put. Watch her and you will know why.

Ѻ Parineeta Chopra - A surprise package. This dark horse nearly stole the thunder from Anushka Sharma.

Ѻ Choreography on a few select songs.

Ѻ Authentic supporting characters.

Let downs.

Ѻ The mushy-mushy YRF ingredient. Seriously, the plot had enough potential to steer for a better finale otherwise.

Ѻ The spicy ingredients which went missing in the second-half.

Ѻ The grand conning act appears to be long drawn.

Verdict: A definite one-time watch material. And looking forward to the next outing from Team-BBB!