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Akshay Kumar's Joker a disaster and a joke, feel critics

Hindustantimes.com
New Delhi, August 31, 2012

First Published: 13:32 IST(31/8/2012)
Last Updated: 21:02 IST(31/8/2012)

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Akshay-Sonakshi's Joker has opened to not-so-impressive reviews. The film directed by Shirish Kunder released on August 31.

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Joker runs out of gas as soon as director Shirish Kunder establishes the plot, because neither does the comic quotient work, nor do the aliens. Akshay Kumar does nothing extraordinary as Agastya. Sonakshi mostly clings on to Akki’s arm, feel critics.

"From the looks of it, Joker reminds

one of Signs [the crop circles], seems inspired by Koi Mil Gaya [UFO, alien], also Swades [a well-settled Indian in the U.S. returns to his roots -- his village], Lagaan [the dhoti-clad hero and the villagers strike a pose] and Golmaal series [Shreyas Talpade's incoherent speech, a la Tusshar Kapoor] and of course, the fav of many a film-maker, Spielberg's ET. Yet, despite everything going in its favor, Joker falls flat on its face!" writes Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama.

"Joker runs out of gas as soon as director Shirish Kunder establishes the plot, because neither does the comic quotient work, nor do the aliens [fake and actual] salvage the show. In fact, the film makes a mockery of everything you may have seen or heard of UFOs and aliens," feels Adarsh.

"While bits and pieces of the first half is tolerable, the film goes completely awry in its post-interval portions. Seriously, what was Kunder thinking while penning and executing this one? Imagine an alien dancing to Indian songs and also doing pelvic thrusts!!! Yes, you read that right!" adds Adarsh.

"Joker introduces us to some dirty, monstrous looking aliens, that might just scare you at a glance, unlike the cute, adorable Jaadu from Koi Mil Gaya. Everything about the film so far has been too overrated and lousy. Though these points aren't too good for the health of Joker's Box Office predictions, but, you never know, lady luck might strike Kunder this time, after his last disastrous Jaan-e-Man," reports OneIndia.

"Although the story of Joker is quite unusual and new for the audience, there are some aspects that remind you of other movies. For example, Akshay’s costumes resemble those of Aamir’s in Lagaan, the PJs cracked in the movie reminded me of Hansa from Khichdi, and the gibberish language spoken by Shreyas Talpade’s character prompted me to think about Tusshar Kapoor in Golmaal," writes Vidhi Sharma, Missmalini.com.

"As a one-line idea Joker might have appeared as an interesting concept. But when the one line is sketched (rather stretched) into a full-length film, you realize that it was better restricted till the one-line only," writes Gaurav Malani, TOI.

"The fundamental flaw of the film is that the moment where you feel there's something actually happening in the story, the film ends. Prior to that the narrative just keeps beating around the bush with its silly rural setup and caricatured characters of villagers," adds Malani.

Script
"Shirish Kunder’s premise for Joker is too simplistic. Obviously, logic takes a backseat but it’s the predictability that is the real downer. The dialogues are alright. Some of the puns like Simon Goeback, the tongue-in-cheek timing of the Ayega song etc. are well written. The reason behind the title of the film Joker is well thought of," writes Roshni Devi, Koimoi.com.

Direction
"Jaan-E-Mann, Kunder's directorial debut, had style and substance both, but Kunder's intention of making an entertainer that hits the right notes fails this time. Choosing an unconventional story is great, but coming up with a gripping 2-hour film is nothing short of a challenge and that's where this film boomerangs [thankfully, the run time of the film is less than 2 hours!]. In fact, it gets cumbersome to sit through the film after a point, since what unfurls is ridiculous and bizarre," says Adarsh.

"Shirish Kunder seems to be more of a visual director. Like his last directorial venture Jaan-e-mann, he adds appeal to some frames esp. while creating the animated firefly-lit village backdrop. Alas he lacks screenplay sense. Neither is he able to add conviction to his offbeat idea nor is he able to engage the audience with consistent or credible comedy. The artificial aliens (supposedly the mainstay of the film) are inducted only after the interval and the first half meanders in nothingness," says Malani.

Sonakshi Sinha and Akshay Kumar in a still from Joker

"There’s not much that director Shirish Kunder could do to the script, but he does a good job. His editing is alright. Gaurav Dagaonkar and G. V. Prakash Kumar’s songs are enjoyable. Shirish’s background score goes well with the scenes. Sudeep Chatterjee and Anay Goswami’s cinematography is very nice. The colours keep the movie quite cheerful. Visual effects are well done," writes Devi.

Performances
"Akshay is monotonous and repetitive. Sonakshi gets no scope at all. Also, the spark is missing. Shreyas Talpade is reduced to being Akshay's glorified sidekick. Minissha Lamba is hardly there. Arya Babbar, Vindu Dara Singh, Asrani, Sanjay Mishra, Vrajesh Hirjee, Pitobash, Gurpreet Guggi, Darshan Jariwala, Anjan Srivastava, Avtar Gill and Bikramjeet Kanwarpal are gap fillers. Alexx O'Nell is strictly okay," says Adarsh.

"Akshay Kumar does a good job but nothing extraordinary as Agastya. Sonakshi Sinha mostly clings on to Akki’s arm as his girlfriend Diva. Shreyas Talpade is very good as the brother and manages to convey all his emotions with just a handful of gibberish words that he has to mouth throughout the movie. Vindu Dara Singh’s act is annoying. Thankfully Minissha Lamba gets very little time for hamming as a press reporter. Darshan Jariwala and Asrani are good as Agastya’s father and nut job of a teacher respectively," says Devi.

"Akshay Kumar was the perfect choice for the role of Agastya. His character grabs your attention the minute he comes on screen and keeps you guessing what his next step in the movie will be," writes Sharma.

"The performances are mostly mediocre. Akshay Kumar is average and Sonakshi Sinha is below average. Shreyas' gibberish becomes unbearable by the end. Minissha Lamba lacks screen presence. The other usual suspects from Vindu Dara Singh, Sanjay Mishra, Vrajesh Hirjee and Darshan Zariwala justify their village name Paglapur at your expense. Arya Babbar as a rickshawalla is seen for even lesser time than the driver on an average rickshaw ride," feels Malani.

"To the fans of Sonakshi Sinha, prepare to be disappointed yet again! Just like Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore, her role in the movie is limited to dancing in songs, and you can count her dialogues on one hand. I’m still waiting to see Sonakshi in a substantial role, showing off her full acting potential," adds Sharma.

Conclusion
"On the whole, Joker is a joke of a film. Disaster!" feels Adarsh.

"Joker is an amusing but predictable fare. Nothing out-of-this-world," concludes Devi.

"Joker doesn’t have the usual soppy romance nor does it have the vehemence of intense fighting scenes. But it has a well-structured storyline, a really good supporting cast, a foot-tapping item song with all the jhatkas and matkas by Chitrangda Singh, and some great scenes that will make you laugh out loud. All in all, I would just like to say that it’s a breath of fresh air and worth a watch. You won’t be disappointed. (3/5 stars.)" says Sharma.

"Like a joker, the film makes a complete fool of itself. However it fails to make you laugh. The circus clown is funnier!" concludes Malani.

Tweeple on Joker
@mayankw14: Got to a 9.20 AM show for Joker, NO ONE showed up, they (Fun Cinema) cancelled the show: uh-oh...

@TheFarahKhan: Joker is our baby,n V stand by it just as v would by czar,diva n anya.v love it n care 4 it.u dont abandon your child whatever the reason.

@kjohar25: All the best @TheFarahKhan and @ShirishKunder!!! Hope the JOKER makes you guys go laughing to the bank!!! Heard its great fun!!! Badhai ho!

@bomanirani: Good morning @TheFarahKhan wish you and @ShirishKunder loads of success for JOKER. May all your hard work payoff!! Love always!

Butt of jokes on Twitter

@htShowbiz followers on Joker's box office prospects:

@Yusuf_twitts: @htShowbiz Big NOOO

@hemanthsingh: @htShowbiz hope it does not, else more such bad movies will be made @htTweets

@ipadyyy: @htShowbiz @aamir_khan in the pic he look more like a hobbit (because of his ears) @BollywoodGandu

@cjmitra: @htShowbiz no, never, never ever

@HolySmokeee: @htShowbiz nooo...joker going to be this years biggest flop !

@dadhichhitesh: @htShowbiz I dnt think so farah's SRK devotion seen in d promotions Whch Whch will go angst d film...

@harsh_kotak: @htShowbiz @htTweets I don't think this movie will work. Absolutely disappointed with Akshay Kumar for doing such movies.

@abhirosh1: @htShowbiz m big fan of akki...but watching promos,i dnt think it will work...disappoint..

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