What Is the Story About?
Rehan Roy, played by Saif Ali Khan, is a jewel thief who is forced to steal a very precious red diamond by the gangster played by Jaideep Ahlawat. Meanwhile, Vikram, played by Kunal Kapoor, is after him, and how can a movie move forward without a love story?
Mr Jewel Thief finds time to romance Farah, played by Vani Kapoor. There is a twist to that as well.
What happens next is for you to find out in the film.
Performances?
Saif Ali Khan has a charming screen presence that has always worked in his favour but in this film, it seems to lack. It is very evident due to the poor screenplay and even worse execution.
This is not at all Saif from Race. It is a bored and old Said who is working for the sake of it.
Jaideep Ahlawat, on the other hand, is a marvel. He is just too good in the pathetic script and he is the only reason you should even consider watching this film. He has a solid impact in the film and that’s the only impact at all.
Kunal Kapoor is one such face who manages to look fresh even after his decades-old presence in the film industry. Even in this film his character falls prey to bad writing but he is tolerable.
Vaani Kapoor is merely the decoration of the film and there is very little substance to her role. But there is no doubt about the fact that she was very forgettable.
Analysis
There are good films that you want to visit again and again. There are bad films like Tees Maar Khan that you want to visit again and again for guilty pleasure.
And then there are films like Jewel Thief the kind that make you question every life decision that led you to hit play. This heist drama is a messy blend of loud colours, nonsensical twists, and characters that feel like they were sketched on the back of a napkin five minutes before the shoot.
And that is why the movie robs you of every hope you may have had before clicking on the play button. It is simply not worth it. The movie is downright an insult to the sensibility that a cinephile should have.
Let’s start with logic or the complete lack of it. Rehan is apparently a thief, a hacker, a doctor, a charmer, and a part-time superhero. He escapes the police at will, throws punches like he’s in a 90s action video game, and flirts with another man’s wife mid-mission. He even manages to pose as a doctor on a flight, despite being a wanted criminal. We ask … how? Does he have an invisibility cloak or is everyone else in the film just exceptionally stupid?
The plot is a disaster. You expect some suspension of disbelief with heist thrillers, sure but Jewel Thief is so far removed from reality that it feels like a parody, except no one’s laughing.
The film tries ticking every heist movie box: fast chase scenes, family trauma backstory, forced romance, and of course, a last-minute twist. But nothing feels earned. The emotional beats are hollow, the romance is creepy (especially when Saif starts planning a future with someone else’s wife out of nowhere), and the so-called surprises are so predictable you can see them coming 30 minutes ahead.
Even the visual tone of the film is off. It’s been colour-graded within an inch of its life. Reds, pinks, and oranges attack your eyes in every frame. It’s like Instagram filters.
Netflix is having a home run of bad film with this movie. There is absolutely no sense in this film and it should not have existed at all. However, we are sure that it will still earn a lot of views because of the stars.
Music and Other Departments?
The scene involving the big plane heist is straight-up absurd, with editing and CGI that scream student project. There’s a building explosion that looks like it was borrowed from a 2005 video game. One particular song from the movie became viral thanks to the killer dance moves of Jaideep Ahlawat. But the overall music is an embarrassment. There is no song or BGM that attracts your attention in the film.
Highlights?
Jaideep Ahlawat
Glamour
Drawbacks?
Everything other than Jaideep Ahlawat and Glamour
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
Never
Jewel Thief Netflix Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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