The Archies (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Set in the 1960s, based on Archie Comics that finds Indian actors taking on the beloved characters. An experience bursting with youth, rebellion, friendships, first loves, and everything young adult.

My Take – As an avid reader of comic books growing up (who am I kidding I still do), I have always been excited to see some of my favorite characters translate to the screen in live action format. And the same can be said about Archie Comics.

But while I quickly gave up on CW‘s dark and edgy series, Riverdale, after the first season, as it divulged into more bizarre territories too weird even for my taste, I was keen enough to see what acclaimed filmmaker Zoya Akhtar (Gully Boy, Dil Dhadakne Do) would be bring to the table in her Indian version of the beloved high school gang who have been existence since 1939.

Thankfully, she does not disappoint us. Blending the charm of the 60s with contemporary vibes, the musical delight is a nostalgic feel-good story that takes one back to their childhood days. I absolutely adored Zoya Akhtar‘s world, which she has constructed with co-writers Ayesha Devitre Dhillon and Reema Kagti (Gold, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within) so effortlessly.

All anchored on the impressive debuts of Suhana Khan (daughter of superstar Shah Rukh Khan), Khushi Kapoor (youngest daughter of the late actress Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor), Agastya Nanda (grandson of cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan), Dot, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja and Yuvraj Menda.

Without a doubt, the film comes as a fun welcome break from the serious content that has been releasing weekly on digital platforms.

Set in 1964 in the fictional town of Riverdale an isolated Anglo-Indian hill town, the story follows Archie Andrews (Agastya Nanda), who while working as a tour guide for his father, is also the flirtatious lead singer of his band, The Archies. Along with him, Betty (Khushi Kapoor), Jughead (Mihir Ahuja), Reggie (Vedang Raina), Ethel (Dot) and Dilton (Yuvraj Menda) are part of the gang famously known as the Class of ’64.

And soon they welcome the return of the ferocious Veronica (Suhana Khan), Betty’s best friend and Archie’s ex, who has been London for a while with her obscenely wealthy parents.

But while Veronica, Betty and Archie quickly find themselves amid a love triangle, they are forced to keep things aside and team up with their friends to stand up to the town redevelopment plans of Veronica’s father, Hiram Lodge (Alyy Khan), which includes building a hotel in Green Park.

The Green Park has sentimental value for every Anglo-Indian family who decided to stay back after Independence, and each child at the age of five planted a tree in the park and these trees defined the identity of the settlers of this town.

Retaining the low-stakes set up of the illustrated pages, the musical takes you back to the good old days when things were simpler, less judgmental and people had kind hearts. The narrative sticks to the original names, eschewing the occasional tradition of adapting it into Hindi. Here, director Akhtar, who has spoken at length about her fondness and nostalgia for the comics, absorbs the sweetness of the original world with a willful self-awareness, taking a break from the gritty worlds and stark realism of her previous features.

As a writer she has well proven herself as a master of character development and this one is yet another testament. She ensures that the audience builds an instant connection with Veronica, Betty, Archie, Ethel, Jughead, Reggie and Dilton. Giving out a strong message of girl bonding through Veronica and Betty despite their love triangle with Archie. She sends out a strong message of unity and bonding.

The production design is beautiful, the team seems to have worked meticulously to get the setting correct and have done an exceptional job in preserving the familiar look and essence of the characters we fondly remember. The moment Veronica steps in, adorned in a foxy purple dress, her persona is instantly recognizable. The attention to detail shines through in every frame, capturing the innocence and camaraderie of the iconic Archie gang. It’s a visual feast for both fans of the comics and newcomers alike.

The music and the background score also elevate the watching experience. Here, director Akhtar has managed to create a near-perfect musical where hard emotions are easily camouflaged under high-octave songs and hyperactive jive numbers. The transition from the dialogue to the dance numbers is seamless and never appears to be awkward. ‘Sunoh’ and ‘Va Va Vroom’ are the ones that standout from the rest of the music.

The only problem with the film is that to keep the two-dimensional aspect of the comic books alive, the central conflict and the resolution of it come out rather shallow. The surface-level conversations and actions of the characters do not allow the audience to understand the gravitas the central theme of the film holds.

Mr. Lodge with his malicious intentions never really develops into this evil monster-like villain. The problem of land acquisition receives a rather unproblematic resolution. Having said that, this brand new Netflix film serves as an excellent bandwagon for launching a bunch of new actors to the Hindi film fraternity.

Suhana Khan, for her debut, delivers the sass like a pro. With a dash of elite, Suhana brings ‘Ronnie’ alive with her captivating performance. Khushi Kapoor will make you fall in love with Betty again for her simplicity and innocence. She adds her softness to the character and shines bright. Khushi and Suhana come alive during the dance numbers. Agastya Nanda nails his role too. He’s raw but does a good job and there’s room for improvement.

He is often overshadowed by Vedang Raina, who steals the show with his charming presence and acting skills. Mihir Ahuja is quite a delight to watch, Dot is adorable and Yuvraj Menda delivers a likable performance.

They are equally well supported by Alyy Khan, Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Tara Sharma, Satyajit Sharma, Suhaas Ahuja, Kamal Sidhu, Santana Roach, Rudra Mahuvarkar and Luke Kenny. On the whole, ‘The Archies’ is a deliciously musical with captivating performances and heartwarming nostalgia.