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Men In Black 3

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The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Double Dhamaal (Film)

by Mamta Bhatt | June 27, 2011 15:39 | Edited June 27, 2011 15:40

Adhering to the outlandish narrative style that underpins so many Bollywood films, this ends up derivative and unfunny.

A general rule of thumb for a Bollywood comedy film is to be as outlandish as possible and heavily promote itself as a "complete entertainer". The mindless drivel is then usually embraced by family audiences and thus spawns sequels, which escalate to unparalleled levels of inanity. Double Dhamaal, the sequel to 2007's mediocre box office success, Dhamaal, is no exception.

 

The story follows the escapades of four broke swindlers - Roy (Deshmukh), Adi (Warsi), Manav (Jafri) and Boman (Chowdhury) - who brainstorm ridiculous schemes to make money. Enter Kabir Nayak (Dutt), their foe from the original film who is now running a successful firm, and the foursome think they've hit the jackpot. Unbeknownst to the group, however, Nayak is wise to their act and has his own grand plans in action. Thus, a game of one-upmanship ensues.

 

Overflowing with flamboyant characters, engaging in increasingly insane behaviour, with convoluted consequences, Double Dhamaal is a joyless ride. Whatever semblance of a plot exists is derivative and predictable, and the crass and exaggerated jokes and skits leave little room for laughs. To the film's credit, it never pretends to be subtle or intelligent, and there are even a few laugh-out-loud moments (propelled by the talents of the male cast). However, a handful of chuckles can't distract from the ultimate disaster that is Double Dhamaal.