BOTTOM LINE: Generic & Predictable, Kinda Cute Rom-Com
Rating
1.75 / 5
Skin N Swear
A few cuss words, an extended but tame kissing sequence
Comedy, Romance
What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s newest Indian original film ‘Plan A Plan B’ is a romantic comedy, centred on two unlucky-in-love individuals who are as different as chalk from cheese. Kaustubh ‘Kosty’ Choughule (Riteish Deshmukh) specialises in breaking up couples, aka a divorce lawyer; while Nirali Vora (Tamannaah Bhatia) brings couples together, coz she is a matchmaker. What happens when the two work in close proximity to each other? Will sparks fly? Or tempers?
Performances?
Watching Riteish Deshmukh on screen once again makes you realise what you’ve been missing since the actor’s been MIA – his singularly unique brand of comedy. No one does understated humour and one-liners delivered in a bland voice and deadpan look better than Riteish Deshmukh. It’s a treat to have him back on screen, and he doesn’t disappoint. Tamannaah Bhatia is effective and efficient as the romantic-at-heart matchmaker with a motor-mouth. Poonam Dhillon is pretty and poised as Nirali’s mother. Kusha Kapila is wasted in an inconsequential role. The rest of the supporting cast is good.
Analysis
Plan A Plan B is the kind of film that finds space in the minds and consciousness of audiences for mere days following its release; and then quickly gets relegated to the annals of obscurity. It is the kind of film that has nothing to say, let alone say anything new. It is generic and predictable. It will not leave you pondering over what you just saw, nor will it provoke you to think. Plan A Plan B is the kind of film that is cute to watch while it lasts, but you forget about it the minute the screen turns blank.
The above description may be a bit harsh to take for Tamannaah Bhatia fans; but well, it is the bare truth. The storyline of Plan A Plan B is your typical run-of-the-mill Mills & Boon kind of kitsch. Sullen, pessimistic divorce lawyer meets cheery optimistic matchmaker; they fight, call each other names; hate the very sight of the other; and then whaddaya know — they fall in passionate love, with dollops of lust thrown into the mix. Now where have we seen ‘that’ before? Errr, in a gazillion films over the years, that’s where!
That said, Plan A Plan B is kinda cute in a way of its own – largely due to Riteish Deshmukh’s presence. The man is easily over 40, but his adorable cuteness is quite intact. The last part of the film is the best part by miles – the final dance part of it, to be more specific. And yes, the 8-going-on-80 kid is super cute too. Other than that, there’s very little in Plan A Plan B to really talk about.
The narrative seems rushed and abrupt, as if the writer and director were in a tearing hurry to be someplace else while filming Plan A Plan B. The romance, and its coming about, is utterly unconvincing as well. There’s no particular reason per se, for Kosty and Nirali to fall for each other. Yet they do — only coz the script wants them to. On screen, the premise comes across as flimsy and forced. There’s no charged atmosphere, sizzling chemistry or heated looks exchanged, to convince us that the two are falling desperately and passionately in love with each other.
To sum it up, Plan A Plan B is kind of bearable, largely because of its two leads, especially Riteish Deshmukh. Watch it if you must. But if you don’t, you’re not missing anything.
Music and Other Departments?
Yug Bhusal’s musical score for Plan A Plan B is good. The songs are pleasing to listen to, though quite forgettable. Jaya Krishna Gummadi’s cinematography is average, nothing to write home about. Shweta Venkat’s editing is sloppy in places – erratic scene transitions, dialogues of previous scenes spilling over into the succeeding scenes, and so on.
Highlights?
Riteish Deshmukh, kind of
Drawbacks?
Humdrum premise
Unconvincing plot
Rushed filmmaking
Poor editing
Did I Enjoy It?
Not Much
Will You Recommend It?
Not Quite
Plan A Plan B Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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