Neal n Nikki

Article Updated 12 December, 2005 09:21:25 AM IST

Neal n Nikki

As the name suggests, 'Neal n Nikki' is more a Hollywood flick than a Bollywood one!

We wonder if the success of 'Dhoom' and 'Salaam Namaste' prompted the Yash Raj camp to come up with another so called contemporary film. But 'Neal n Nikki' surpasses its predecessors in terms of sleaze, sex and skin show. We wonder if this film is from the Yash Raj stables!

Besides the liberal use of skin and sex, it has no story to begin with. The songs are peppy but not memorable at all! Looking at it positively, it has all the trappings of a Yash Raj film. Well packaged, beautifully shot, good looking people and superb locales.

Now for the story or whatever one could call it. Although set in Canada, 'Neal n Nikki' is the story of two Indians, Neal (Uday Chopra) and Nikki (Tanishaa). They're born and brought up in Canada. Neal is a playboy but finally gives in to his parents and agrees to marry Sweetie (Richa Pallod) from Bhatinda.

However, he manages to convince his dad to send him on a 21-day vacation to Vancouver. Life changes for him there. He'd planned to spend each day with a different girl but gets saddled with Nikki right from day one. She is nursing a broken heart while he's desperately trying to live up the last few days of his bachelorhood.

A series of encounters, arguments and fights later, Nikki cons Neal to go with her to Whistler. She tells him that it would be heaven for him as he would find the best of girls there. Another fight later the two become buddies and realize that they share some strange kind of chemistry. They even have it out with each other (Nikki was a virgin) and then there are more fights until the two unite at the end of the film. The climax is good fun.

P.S. Vinod's cinematography is brilliant. The 'Halla Re' track stands out for its music as well as choreography.

Now for the characters. Uday Chopra is likeable although he apes Shah Rukh Khan to the hilt. Tanishaa is chirpy and bubbly, and has also worked on her body but her face is a giveaway. She looks misfit for the role. She has a mature face and not exactly a pretty one at that!

She overdoes her cute bit too many times and screeches too often for comfort. And why is she only wearing a bra instead of a top in every scene? Her generous show of cleavage even in Indian outfits is anything but desirable. She looks awful, particularly in her entry scene.

Richa Pallod suits her character but doesn't have to do much. Abhishek Bachchan makes an insignificant 1-minute entry in the 'Halla Re' song to give the film its star appeal. The film may appeal to the youth but doesn't stand any chance at the box-office.

** (Two stars)
*poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent

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