The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Not a winning formula

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 29, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Not a winning formula

’

Guffaws aplenty: A scene from ‘ONE TWO THREE

Film: ONE TWO THREE

Direction: Ashwani Dhir

Cast: Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Sameera Reddy, Esha Deol

The dumb just got dumber. And the not-so-dumb join in laughter as Ashwani Dhir spins together a comedy where the moments’ worth outstrips the couple of hours one spends inside the hall. Not quite a winning formula, but a workable one. Hand-pick a few moments of the film and you will find yourself warming up to this laugh saga that travels the “Kya Kool Hain Hum” and “No Entry” highway.

Oh, by the way, for all the critical lampooning such films are treated to, they are beginning to re-write the norms at the box office.

Dhir goes for a relentless overstatement, knowing that his single strand storyline and the consequent mistaken identity crisis won’t pass muster if the viewers have time to sit and ponder. So, he packs in lots of momentum in his story. He treats his heroines as nothing but a ruse to appeal to the carnal instincts in men. Sameera Reddydoes a bit of a striptease; Esha Deol and Tanishatry their bit. Neetu Chandra is the odd one out.

Except for the ever-reliable and prolific Paresh Rawal, others got to be grateful for the opportunity provided by Dhir. Here, Tusshar says all the double-liners with a straight face that he is accustomed to. Then there is Suniel Shetty, hamming as usual, and once again telling us a scowl is actually better than no expression. Upen Patel is there too. What is he doing? Well, he stands on the ground while Tanisha stands on a podium or a staircase perhaps to make up for their height difference.

Dhir just gets the three guys, all named Laxmi Narayan to come to the same hotel at the same time. And you will enjoy the fare if you are not too concerned about notions of prudery, are willing to turn a deaf ear to some of the dialogues that touché the gutter level. Which side of the moral fence you stand?

ZIYA US SALAM

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh