Where’ the suspense? Where’s the thrill? What’s the X-factor? Predictably annoying, childishly stereotyped! That is what the film is! It’s hardly got an element that you mustn’t have seen on screen before. More so, the title of the film actually plucks out any possibility of suspense from the film i.e., you already know Kareena too will ultimately become part of the family! Add to that, this official adaptation of Stepmom can serve as a bad dose of predictability specially to those who have seen the latter. The movie has just one powerful tool however-emotions! It is determined to wet your cheeks for sure! And this emotional factor to an extent clicks. More so as the director,Siddharth Malhotra, seems to have put his heart and soul into this one.
Casting of good actors was necessary as every actor had a substantial element to portray. Kajol was splendid as usual. Arjun is a rock star. He’s got a striking flamboyance, which is sufficient, he need not act! Coming to Kareena, she just manages to not click these days. Though she is good in some scenes, there are plenty others where she is found busy imitating herself and unfocussed! The kids are good. Talking of music, it isn’t very splendid and not bad either. But the only song that actually rocked was- Let’s Rock! Also,the director and the makers of the film seem to have observed a great sense of power and inspiration in the not very novel song, Reham-o-Karam for they stupefy you by playing that bit of line at irregular intervals as though some great incident just took place! If someone added color to the movie, it was Kajol, she is a legend that her contemporary actresses must bow down to, and follow!
One good discovery the movie makes is the chemistry between Arjun and Kareena. They make an awesome couple. But unfortunately, there is hardly any romance and Kareena is seen more with Kajol than Arjun in the second half! Arjun Rampal is sadly abandoned towards the end, as the women take lead.
Above all, it is typically the great Indian melodrama, providing a huge, huge scope for tears, so do watch it if you want to cry and need a reason to do so! This one qualifies as a great reason, for sure!
RATING- **1/2
