| Reviewer Roundup |
| 1. |
 | Steve Rhodes |
| review follows |
|   |
| 2. |
| Harvey Karten |
| read the review |
| --- |
|
Review by Steve Rhodes
2½ stars out of 4
In Mira Nair's MONSOON WEDDING, wedding planner P.K. Dubey (Vijay Raaz) has
assured the bride's father, Lalit Verma (Naseeruddin Shah), that the rainy
season is over. As the title gives away, we can reasonably assume that the
wedding will turn out to be a soggy affair. But before we get to the
concluding festivities, we have to endure non-stop small talk from all of
the bride's large extended family and friends. Other than the cinematically
traditional wedding eve fling with someone else before the couple ties the
knot, little happens. Of course, the offended spouse-to-be will forgive the
other one's indiscretion.
Vasundhara Das and Parvin Dabas turn in nice performances as the bride and
groom. In a parallel romance, the gregariously annoying wedding planner
falls for the sweetly obsequious Verma family maid, Alice (Tilotama Shome).
The best part of the production is the lush depiction of India's colorful
clothing and elaborate decorations. But, to be honest, MONSOON WEDDING is
no better in this regard than most other Indian films.
There's nothing wrong with MONSOON WEDDING, but we've seen it all before.
After almost two hours of pleasantries, the movie pulls the old trick of
throwing in a last minute zinger to spice up the story. But by then it's
too late.
MONSOON WEDDING runs 1:54. The film is in English and in Hindi and Punjabi
with English subtitles. It is rated R for "language, including some sex
related dialogue" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
Copyright © 2002 Steve Rhodes
|
out of 4
