Happy Ending (2014) Review!!

Synopsis – An erstwhile bestselling writer gets attracted to another writer who has replaced him at his publication. While his only chance to get back some of his fame (& money) is to write a Hollywood meets Bollywood kind of script for a sleazy single screen hero, who wants to make it big at the multiplex as well.

My Take – I had actually begun to think romantic comedies cannot be made differently in Bollywood! And I am also right but they can still be made pretty darn good. With the still in coming pour of masala movies heading your way since a couple of years, this urbane cool rom com which goes as far as parodying itself comes a breath of fresh air! The plot is nothing unusual & yes it does pick a piece or two from Showtime’s hit TV series Cali fornication, its the predictability of things which the most fun part of this venture. Shot in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the three cinematographers Chase Bowman, Yaron Levy & Mahesh Limaye have made sure the film is very good-looking.

The plot is simple – Yudi lives in LA, an erstwhile bestselling writer who has gone broke and lost his car due to failing his installment payments! Amidst all the confusion, he bumps into Aanchal Reddy – a writer who has replaced him at his publication, writes romantic novels for a living and doesn’t believe in love, while instead pokes fun at her own readers. While his only chance to get back some of his fame (& money) is to write a Hollywood meets Bollywood kind of script for a sleazy single screen hero Armaan, who wants to make it big at the multiplex as well!

The hilarity starts from the opening scene itself, as Yudi & his girl friend (real life wife Kareena Kapoor Khan) watching ‘Love Aaj Kal’. She tells him she loves him, he says erm cool. She says I know you have depth. And he says no, I think this is all I have. Breakup Hilarious! !The best bits in the film are between Yudi and Yogi, a fat snobby quirky but philosophically always correct alter ego! Directors Raj and D.K have already shown us they are here to try something new (Go Goa Gone) and thank God for that. & they are not afraid to portray that feeling A scene where Govina’s assistant pokes fun at the huge downpour of South Indian film remakes, it just sounded so true! Their vocabulary is fresh, their writing might not be novel but at least they were ballsy enough to attempt a decent spoof on romances. Yes, the film dips in pacing at times in the second half, but looking at the wider picture, those scenes were actually integral to the whole storyline. Among the performances, Saif Ali Khan plays himself & is back in his comfort zone, playing commitment phobic has been his thing in a lot of films and it’s his usual deadpan humor that gets you. I loved Yogi more than Yudi. To be able to deliver such distinct performances, in the same frame needs a sound sense of comic timing and Saif surpasses his best. RIP Humshakals. Ileana Dcruz gives another effortless performance. She too is clearly playing herself but does so with a lot of believable earnestness, you just cant help but fall in love with her! Kalki Koechlin despite her small role is great. She gets her antics in to make you laugh and you do find the psycho stalker endearing!

Ranvir Shorey has a knack for comedy which is a known fact, & here he gets to prove how outstanding he is! His frustrating life situations will get you laughing. His dominating wife, her oops pregnancy and her monotone under wears are the primary problems of his life. Preity Zinta in an extended cameo as always is sparkling & loveable. And above all Govinda is in his words, is just ‘kickass’. Slipping into the kind of loud humor he has always been known for! His character of a sleazy single star, who thinks too highly off himself is a delight to watch!! The directors have made sure the sequences between his character & Saif’s character, become downright laughable & memorable. The editing was crisp and a special mention to Sachin Jigar, there is enough good music to keep you glued. Overall Happy Ending is a well paced, urban, cool & a hilarious rom com, & the the credit goes to Raj and D.K along with Saif who pack together so many right ingredients that you can’t help but invest in the film. An excellent weekend watch! Once the film has “Ended” you are sure to come out “Happy” (did you see what I just did, no?).