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By Taran
Adarsh, June 15, 2007 - 16:15 IST
 Really
big expectations? Oh yes! With the premier production
house [Yash Raj] at the helm of affairs and Shaad Ali
in the director's seat, JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM is
expected to strike like a hurricane.
Let's come to the point straightaway. Don't look for a
story in JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM. For, there's none here.
What you get to see is a collage of interesting
moments. It's not one of those conventional prem
kahanis that have the lovers drifting apart or a
misunderstanding creating havoc in their lives.
What goes against the film is the fact that you feel a
vacuum at the end of the screening. Something is
amiss. Sure, you are enamored by the gloss. You are
awe-struck by the stunning locales of U.K. and France.
You are hooked to the performances of Abhishek and
Preity mainly. But, deep inside, it doesn't satiate
you.
To sum up, JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM is all gloss, no
substance. Body beautiful, minus soul. In desi lingo,
unchi dukaan, phika pakwaan.
Busy London station. Delayed train from Birmingham.
Two strangers waiting for the train... Rikki Thukral [Abhishek
Bachchan], born in Bhatinda, living in London; and
Alvira Khan [Preity Zinta], more Brit than the Queen
herself, however with Lahori blood in her veins.
 Crowded
café. One table to share. Two hours to kill. Perfect
setting for the start of a love-story. Hitch? Both
Rikki and Alvira are engaged and have come to pick up
their fiancés, who are coming by the same train. To
kill time, they end up telling each other their “how I
met my fiancé” stories.
Rikki met his fiancé Anaida [Lara Dutta] at The Ritz,
Paris. Alvira discovers her prince at Madame Tussaud's.
When a gigantic wax model of Superman falls from the
ceiling, Alvira is a sitting target. But Steve [Bobby
Deol], a lawyer by profession, saves her life, but
steals her heart.
Stories unfold, time passes, the two strangers start
enjoying each other. Actually, they have gotten
alarmingly attracted to each other!
Director Shaad Ali has handled a number of sequences
well. Actually, come to think of it, you do enjoy a
few moments in this 14 reeler. But can you stretch a
rubberband beyond a point? That's what the writer
does.
 Writer
Habib Faisal's screenplay is as taxing as driving in
monsoons on a road full of potholes. When you realize
the film offers no story, you sit motionless, flexing
your facial muscles at times, but remaining
indifferent to the goings-on generally. The director
and writer have substituted the script with stunning
visuals. But that's no compensation.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is quite good. 'Ticket To
Hollywood' is the track you carry home. The title
track is another foot-tapping composition.
Cinematography is exceptional. The film is a visual
treat. Choreography [Vaibhavi Merchant] is different,
but Abhishek carries it off very well. Aki Narula's
costumes are smashing.
JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM belongs to Abhishek first and
Preity next. Abhishek is in terrific form. It wouldn't
be erroneous to state that his performance makes the
goings-on watchable at times. A lesser actor would've
fallen flat on his face in the absence of a cohesive
script.
 Preity
is lovely and takes to her character like a fish to
water. In fact, the two actors make an attractive
pair. Bobby is relegated to the backseat. Also, would
someone please tell Mr. Deol to chop off those locks?
Lara Dutta is confident, though she's not in the
forefront either. Amitabh Bachchan adds to star-value.
He only appears in one song, flashed throughout the
movie.
On the whole, JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM is no patch on Yash
Raj's illustrious films. The film is all gloss, no
substance. Body beautiful, minus soul. At the
box-office, the all-powerful Yash Raj brand coupled
with the lack of biggies will ensure substantial
revenue for its producers/distributors in the initial
days, proving that sometimes, a bad film also makes
money
Rating:- * 1/2
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