04 December,2010 06:44 AM IST | | Tushar Joshi
Phas Gaye Re Obama
A; COMEDY, DRAMA
Dir: Subhash Kapoor
Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Manu Rishi, Rajat Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Amole Gupte
Rating:''1/2
What's it about: Barack Obama features many times in Phas Gaye Re Obamau00a0-- on T-shirts, posters and one-liners. The American President is a metaphor representing the growing frustration due to recession. It's not just the working class but the underworld that's badly hit by the adverse state of economy. Bhaisaab (Mishra) runs a gang of hapless kidnappers who've been reduced to strugglers making ends meet. With no respect and money in the business, they have one person to blame for their conditionu00a0-- Obama! When Om (Kapoor) a bankrupt NRI returns to his village to sell his haveli and save his family in the US from losing all they have, he doesn't know what's awaiting him. After Bhaisaab's gang kidnaps him, the drama doesn't end, in fact it just begins. Om is tossed from one frying pan to another. There's Munni (Dhupia) and a minister (Gupte) with gastro problems who also wants a bite of the lion's share. However, no one knows Om's debt ridden plight and when that's exposed, mayhem follows.
What's hot: The rustic setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the story. Characters are well-sketched and even the smallest supporting actor stands out in his track. Situations and tracks mesh well into each other giving the story a good flow. As events start unravelling and Om's fate gets more twisted, the drama gets better. Manu Rishi and Sanjay Mishra are brilliant. The chemistry between them is naturally comic. Both the actors have brilliant timing. Rajat Kapoor's initial frustration and later his coming into his own is superb. Most of the cracks and jokes are original ideas rather than rehashed sequences from other films. Neha Dhupia comes as a pleasant surprise. Coming out of her comfort zone, she plays a feminist gangster with utmost zeal. Her Munni act is one of the highlights of the film. Given the production parameters and other limitations, the film succeeds in entertaining. Thankfully, there are no songs to distract the viewers from the storyline or obstruct the film's pace.
What's not: Kapoor takes time to get a grip on the story. The start is lethargic but once the ball gets rolling it doesn't stop till the very end. Amole Gupte's mantri act could have had more shades than him just having to chant some mantras to cure his bowel issues.u00a0 The climax is whacky, but is somewhat rushed and comes out of nowhere. We get the Obama vibe but sometimes it feels too forced to have any impact.
What to do: An ensemble of gifted actors bring out the best in them to deliver a genuinely funny film. Go watch it.
