Badmaash Company Movie Review

Parmeet Sethi, best remembered for his negative act in Shahrukh Khan’s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, makes his directorial debut with Badmaash Company starring Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma (who made her debut in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008), Meiyang Chang (Indian Idol fame), Vir Das and Anupam Kher. Coming from Yashraj Films, the film was believed to be similar to Bunty Aur Babli, but Shahid in an interview said “Badmaash Company is a lot more believable, Bunty and Babli was restricted in conning.”

Is Badmaash Company smart and entertaining enough? 

Badmaash Company – Positives

• Although ‘inspired’ by the Hollywood flick ‘Catch me if you can’, Badmaash Company starts of pretty well. The first half is well paced and the story is easy to identify with, especially for youngsters of today (the story though has been set in the 90s)..
• Director Parmeet Sethi, who is also the writer of the film, has successfully managed to infuse enough fun and energy into the friendship that the four lead stars share. Also, to the writers credit the con jobs are pretty well written and the build up is just perfect for a strong second half.
• The locales the film has been shot in (Bangkok, America) offer plenty of eye candy, the cinematography is good.
• Pritam’s music is a mixed bag. Ayaashi and Chaska  are good.

Badmaash Company – Negatives

• Its the post-interval portions that we (audience) walk out with and that’s where Badmaash Company disappoints big time, especially the last 30 – 40 minutes. After a entertaining first hour, all begins to slide down hill. Suddenly the director opts for melodrama, typical Yashraj rona-dhona. The pace dips, the placement of the Fakira song is hilarious and the fallout between the friends just doesn’t work.
• and then.. the climax. Seriously, what were the makers thinking? The whole “Bleeding Madras” and the sale of shirts by getting the late Michael Jackson to wear one, is ridiculously stupid. No wonder the script was written in 6 days flat!
• Anushka Sharma is a mis-cast, she never really looks comfortable in this bare-it-all avatar of hers. Someone a little more meaner, with the ability to carry of a role with Grey shades was what the role demanded. Someone like a Priyanka Chopra was just about perfect.

Performances

• Shahid Kapoor gets it right at times, but isn’t very consistent with his performance.
• Anushka Sharma gets the dramatic and kissing scenes right. Talking of the kisses, there are about 3 of them and by Bollywood standards all of them have been well-shot and ‘performed’.
• Meiyang Chang is okay. Vir Das is good. Anupam Kher in a short role does very well.

Overall, Badmaash Company has a strong first half with a terrible second. It has its moments but not enough to recommend a trip to theaters. Wait for the DVD.

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