SAIFF 09: ALADIN Review

(Our thanks to Dustin Chang for the review)

As the 6th annual South Asian International Film Fest's opening night film, the world premiere of a Bollywood big budget, special effects driven fantasy, Aladin didn't disappoint the mostly Indian audience that packed the lovely Paris Theater here on a dreary rainy night in Manhattan.

The film takes place in an imagined contemporary city, Khwaish and tells the story of Aladin, an unlucky young man who has to carry on the burden of being named after a fairy tale character. Naturally he grows up being a target of school bullies.
Now in college, the puppy faced Aladin (Ritesh Deshmukh) is hoplessly in love with American exchange student, Jasmine (bewitching former Ms. Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez).
Under some goofy circumstances, Aladin comes in possession of a lamp from 'Ancient Things' Chinese antique store.
And a rubba-dub-dub later, voila: there appears a smooth talking genie, named Genius (wink wink), played with gusto by Bollywood superstar, Amitabh Bachchan. This stylin' genie won't go away before granting Aladin three wishes. Aladin thoughtlessly decides and wishes for beautiful Jasmine then wishes against it because he is just that square.

Now with only one wish left, he enlists Genius to help him win her heart in his own terms, without magic. A father-son like relationship develops.
The complicated plot involves the rivalry between Genius and his nemesis the Ringmaster (the charismatic Sanjay Dutt) with his Tim Burton-esque evil trope and a once-in-a-million-years-comet passing close by the earth. But what it all comes down to, is Aladin is just another typical underdog movie.
Deshmukh is perfect for dorky lovestruck Aladin. Fernandez, with her beguiling smile and firm midriff is going to be a big star, no doubt. But it's Bachchan's show. His charisma and screen presence is undeniable.

The screening of Aladin was preceded by messages from director, Sujoy Ghosh and two principal actors Ritesh Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandez apologizing for not being present at the premiere due to a scheduling conflict. Being a novice to the Bollywood cinema, the first twenty minutes or so of the movie was tough to get through- unnecessarily extravagant visuals and deafening Hans Zimmer-like score on cue, it reminded me of any other Summer Hollywood blockbuster. But after the elaborately choreographed second dance number, I was hooked by its catchy tunes and good humor. The humor it seems, is the top priority of Bollywood musical comedy. There is hardly a dull moment in its two hour running time. I don't really know the formula (whether it's upbeat- upbeat- ballad or upbeat- ballad- upbeat), but Aladin is an immensely satisfying, perfect popcorn movie. I had a blast.