The Movie's Storyline
It’s 2008. Harman Baweja attempts to make a dashing debut (literally) as he bangs his father’s swanky car. Daddy dear is a business tycoon who has no time for his motherless son Karan (Harman). Now how many times have we seen such banal bonding before? Nevertheless, real-life father Harry Baweja has all the time to launch his son (again literally, through flying cars) in a futuristic film which unfortunately isn’t ahead of its time.
Karan meets Sana (Priyanka Chopra), chases, dates and sings with her, gets separated and reunites and attempts every possible act to stretch the screenplay till the interval. The director has dedicatedly devoted the first half merely for the love story. 2050 appears only in the second half where the techno-savvy world comprises of touch-screen gadgets and perhaps India is again ruled by foreigners as most inhabitants of Mumbai resemble firangs .
Sana dies in the first half and our hero is pretty sure that she will be reborn in 2050. His scientist uncle (Boman Irani) who is a confused combination of an astrologer-cum-astronomer reaffirms his faith. Uncle Frankenstein has designed a time machine which transports them into future. Sana is Zeisha now and suddenly the modern day sci-fi takes an ancient Bollywood turn with the reincarnation theme. This Karan has no Arjun but with just one song he rekindles memories of past life in his lifeless romance with Sana.
Meanwhile the director also inserts an archetypal villain though he chooses to keep his face covered for reasons unknown. This faceless bad man looks like the first cousin of Mogambo and suspiciously sounds like Gulshan Grover. Is Grover resorting to barely dubbing for films or did the director midways mistake his film to be an animation attempt? Expectedly, the villain is in search of the time machine which assures a climax combat with the hero.
The screenplay grilled by multiple writers is a clear case of too many cooks spoil the broth. The first half is long-drawn-out with a lousy love story while scenes are specially written in the second half only to accommodate brand endorsements. The special effects are a new high for hindi films. However that doesn’t affect much as the effects are almost relegated to the background while the romance takes preventable prominence. Moreover the visual graphics remind of several Hollywood films like The Fifth Element, Total Recall and The Star Wars series. Also the villain’s vicious intentions are clearly derived from Krrish .
Of the performances, Boman Irani hams hysterically. Priyanka Chopra overdoes the Pooh image to irksome effect. Archana Puran Singh repeats her Punjabi act for the zillionth time. Harman Baweja, intentionally or unintentionally, has a strong Hrithik Roshan hangover in his looks, performance, body-language, mannerisms, action, dancing and dialogue delivery but surprisingly it works to his advantage. In the pre-climax party scene he also derives a lot in his act from Shah Rukh Khan. But a confident charm works to his merit.
Through the film, Harman keeps repeating a line ‘I don’t need luck, I have love’. Perhaps an overdose of love will surely make him seek some luck, now.
Actual Review:
Harry Baweja wudda kept it simple. In the film's first half, it seems a love story set in 2008 would have worked better as son Harman's debut venture instead of "Love Story 2050", which really is neither here nor there.
The movie moves across places and time, but unfortunately, it belongs nowhere, and goes nowhere. In fact, it just loses its way in a mess created by a bad script and worse story-telling.
It's neither a full blown romantic film nor a science fiction. Kindly put, "Love Story 2050" is a misdirected attempt, albeit an ambitious one, to launch Harman Baweja in a film that has been made with a simple intention - to stand apart from the rest. Itz or technical brilliance is simply stupid, but the immense disappointment it leaves you with. What a waste of a Rs500 million budget!
No, the hype does not kill it. In fact, one steps into the first day's first show with no expectations, instead probably with a little sympathy for the film and its debutant hero as the giant Aamir Khan and his cutthroat marketing of "Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na" had been threatening to crush Harman's dream, even before he could prove himself.
A handful of people in the cinema were the first ominous sign of things to come. As Karan (Harman) makes a stylised entry on the big screen, you wait for the next big things to happen. But what does is pretty regular stuff... Love at first sight, Karan subsequently wooing Sana (Priyanka Chopra), the couple singing some melodious songs, while the eye-pleasing locales of South Australia roll in the background.
To be fair, till this point, the film, though moving at a slower-than-desired pace, manages to keep you interested.
But just when you think the lonely Karan is alone no more, it's time to go into the future. The Shanghai-lookalike Mumbai of 2050 is where he lands along with scientist Uncle Ya (Boman Irani) and Sana's siblings. Our happy hero of the first half is now on a mission, which progresses in a painfully confused manner.
Instead of the much talked about technical wizardry bowling one over, what knocks our senses dead is a haphazard bunch of sequences that don't connect cohesively and challenge logic every step of the way.
By now you genuinely feel sorry for Harman and even have no patience or appreciation for the special effects that inconsistently appear on screen. Some are amateurish, some impressive, but you simply don't care.
At almost 3 hours, this love story makes you weep for a happy ending, or just any ending.
Amidst all that's mediocre and bad, Harman makes his presence felt. For most of film he is at ease and dances like a dream, and except for a few scenes that require complex emoting, his acting passes muster. And yes, not just the face, even his voice and on screen mannerisms are quite like Hrithik Roshan's. So whether he likes it or not, comparisons will remain and it will take a lot of effort from him to come into his own.
Priyanka's performance fluctuates between likable and contrived, and despite the long length of her role, she doesn't really make a mark. Her stylist though does a good job of making her fit her two on screen personas.
The remaining cast has bit roles with nothing to do, and even the immensely talented Boman Irani fails to win you over.
The fault lies mainly with the script, screenplay and direction. Together, the three make you so weary that while you do notice that the music is pleasing and the sets beautifully crafted, you can't be bothered with applauding.
‘I don't need luck because I have love', is Karan's favourite line in the film. Well, Harman may have love, but for "Love Story 2050" to work, he'll only need luck. And lots of it.
Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Archana Puran Singh, Dilip Tahil
Director: Harry Baweja
Music: Anu Malik
It’s 2008. Harman Baweja attempts to make a dashing debut (literally) as he bangs his father’s swanky car. Daddy dear is a business tycoon who has no time for his motherless son Karan (Harman). Now how many times have we seen such banal bonding before? Nevertheless, real-life father Harry Baweja has all the time to launch his son (again literally, through flying cars) in a futuristic film which unfortunately isn’t ahead of its time.
Karan meets Sana (Priyanka Chopra), chases, dates and sings with her, gets separated and reunites and attempts every possible act to stretch the screenplay till the interval. The director has dedicatedly devoted the first half merely for the love story. 2050 appears only in the second half where the techno-savvy world comprises of touch-screen gadgets and perhaps India is again ruled by foreigners as most inhabitants of Mumbai resemble firangs .
Sana dies in the first half and our hero is pretty sure that she will be reborn in 2050. His scientist uncle (Boman Irani) who is a confused combination of an astrologer-cum-astronomer reaffirms his faith. Uncle Frankenstein has designed a time machine which transports them into future. Sana is Zeisha now and suddenly the modern day sci-fi takes an ancient Bollywood turn with the reincarnation theme. This Karan has no Arjun but with just one song he rekindles memories of past life in his lifeless romance with Sana.
Meanwhile the director also inserts an archetypal villain though he chooses to keep his face covered for reasons unknown. This faceless bad man looks like the first cousin of Mogambo and suspiciously sounds like Gulshan Grover. Is Grover resorting to barely dubbing for films or did the director midways mistake his film to be an animation attempt? Expectedly, the villain is in search of the time machine which assures a climax combat with the hero.
The screenplay grilled by multiple writers is a clear case of too many cooks spoil the broth. The first half is long-drawn-out with a lousy love story while scenes are specially written in the second half only to accommodate brand endorsements. The special effects are a new high for hindi films. However that doesn’t affect much as the effects are almost relegated to the background while the romance takes preventable prominence. Moreover the visual graphics remind of several Hollywood films like The Fifth Element, Total Recall and The Star Wars series. Also the villain’s vicious intentions are clearly derived from Krrish .
Of the performances, Boman Irani hams hysterically. Priyanka Chopra overdoes the Pooh image to irksome effect. Archana Puran Singh repeats her Punjabi act for the zillionth time. Harman Baweja, intentionally or unintentionally, has a strong Hrithik Roshan hangover in his looks, performance, body-language, mannerisms, action, dancing and dialogue delivery but surprisingly it works to his advantage. In the pre-climax party scene he also derives a lot in his act from Shah Rukh Khan. But a confident charm works to his merit.
Through the film, Harman keeps repeating a line ‘I don’t need luck, I have love’. Perhaps an overdose of love will surely make him seek some luck, now.
Actual Review:
Harry Baweja wudda kept it simple. In the film's first half, it seems a love story set in 2008 would have worked better as son Harman's debut venture instead of "Love Story 2050", which really is neither here nor there.
The movie moves across places and time, but unfortunately, it belongs nowhere, and goes nowhere. In fact, it just loses its way in a mess created by a bad script and worse story-telling.
It's neither a full blown romantic film nor a science fiction. Kindly put, "Love Story 2050" is a misdirected attempt, albeit an ambitious one, to launch Harman Baweja in a film that has been made with a simple intention - to stand apart from the rest. Itz or technical brilliance is simply stupid, but the immense disappointment it leaves you with. What a waste of a Rs500 million budget!
No, the hype does not kill it. In fact, one steps into the first day's first show with no expectations, instead probably with a little sympathy for the film and its debutant hero as the giant Aamir Khan and his cutthroat marketing of "Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na" had been threatening to crush Harman's dream, even before he could prove himself.
A handful of people in the cinema were the first ominous sign of things to come. As Karan (Harman) makes a stylised entry on the big screen, you wait for the next big things to happen. But what does is pretty regular stuff... Love at first sight, Karan subsequently wooing Sana (Priyanka Chopra), the couple singing some melodious songs, while the eye-pleasing locales of South Australia roll in the background.
To be fair, till this point, the film, though moving at a slower-than-desired pace, manages to keep you interested.
But just when you think the lonely Karan is alone no more, it's time to go into the future. The Shanghai-lookalike Mumbai of 2050 is where he lands along with scientist Uncle Ya (Boman Irani) and Sana's siblings. Our happy hero of the first half is now on a mission, which progresses in a painfully confused manner.
Instead of the much talked about technical wizardry bowling one over, what knocks our senses dead is a haphazard bunch of sequences that don't connect cohesively and challenge logic every step of the way.
By now you genuinely feel sorry for Harman and even have no patience or appreciation for the special effects that inconsistently appear on screen. Some are amateurish, some impressive, but you simply don't care.
At almost 3 hours, this love story makes you weep for a happy ending, or just any ending.
Amidst all that's mediocre and bad, Harman makes his presence felt. For most of film he is at ease and dances like a dream, and except for a few scenes that require complex emoting, his acting passes muster. And yes, not just the face, even his voice and on screen mannerisms are quite like Hrithik Roshan's. So whether he likes it or not, comparisons will remain and it will take a lot of effort from him to come into his own.
Priyanka's performance fluctuates between likable and contrived, and despite the long length of her role, she doesn't really make a mark. Her stylist though does a good job of making her fit her two on screen personas.
The remaining cast has bit roles with nothing to do, and even the immensely talented Boman Irani fails to win you over.
The fault lies mainly with the script, screenplay and direction. Together, the three make you so weary that while you do notice that the music is pleasing and the sets beautifully crafted, you can't be bothered with applauding.
‘I don't need luck because I have love', is Karan's favourite line in the film. Well, Harman may have love, but for "Love Story 2050" to work, he'll only need luck. And lots of it.
Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Archana Puran Singh, Dilip Tahil
Director: Harry Baweja
Music: Anu Malik
July 7, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Earlier i thought only youth wud be attracted to this movie but now I doubt if even youth will get attracted to this movie considerin they wud be able to relate more to the fun and fresh JTYJN...and the latter is indeed a better movie..love story is borin in 1st half and in 2nd half its kinda far fetched. Also in terms of music, JTYJN's music is notches above Love Story.Sign up on Planet Radio City to get all the latest info about ur fav music and singer/composer. Also get lyrics and meet others who like your kinda music. Spread the word about your favourite music.
www.planetradiocity.com