Happy Ending

Filmy Review

Last time the director duo of Raj Nidimoru & Krishna D.K (better known as Raj & D.K) and Saif Ali Khan collaborated, they churned out India's first ever Zombie film, 'Go Goa Gone'. I saw that movie back then and quite enjoyed it. I especially liked how the directors brought in a new perspective and much needed freshness into the world of Bollywood! Hence when I got to know that the same team (Illuminati Films, Raj & D.K and Saif Ali Khan) was coming back once again, my levels of expectation and anticipation were at an all time high. For me the cherry on this tempting cake (chocolate truffle, as I imagined it to be) was Govinda. I saw him make an impressive comeback with 'Kill Dil' and to see him in another film within a span of a few days..I couldn't have asked for anything more!

And so I went into the theatre with a tub of popcorn (the popcorn is mandatory!) and settled down to watch what Raj & D.K had in store this time around. Without wasting much time, we are introduced to the uber cool Saif Ali Khan aka Yudi, an L.A based, commitment phobic writer who is living life on the past laurels.  A book that he wrote almost five and a half years back, did really well and made him into an overnight success. He still basks in the past glory not realizing that he has been forgotten long back. It's only when he is broke and desperate, that he decides to get his act together and get back to doing what he does best, writing. Does he get back in the game? Well, the answer is a BIG No. While Yudi was whiling his time, chasing skirts, managing girlfriends or at least trying to, other writers were doing what they are meant to - Write! One such young author is the beautiful and smouldering, Aanchal (Ileana D'Cruz). She is the current writing sensation who has taken L.A by a storm because of her impressive writing skills.

Things look bleak for Yudi both on professional and personal front. On one hand he has stiff competition from Aanchal and on the other, it's his psychotic girlfriend Vishakha (Kalki Koechlin). Initially Yudi does not share great vibes with Ileana but soon he realizes that she is much like him. The two start growing fond of each other but how do two commitment shy people get together? While the love blossoms slowly between the two authors, Yudi gets the desperately needed second chance as a writer when an Indian super-star, Armaan (Govinda aa la re) summons him to write a movie script. Armaan stacks up a few Hollywood film DVD's and asks Yudi to give him a film which would help him capture the elusive multiplex audience.

A career that is heading nowhere, a love life that is confusing to say the least, a manager whose worse than a nagging mother and a lazy, slacker of an alter-ego Yogi, make Yudi's journey an interesting watch.

Happy Ending is a mixed-bag. While it has many things going in it's favour - The wonderful music and foot-tapping songs by Sachin-Jigar, Great Cinematography, Charming Saif Ali Khan who looks every bit of Yudi (and Yogi), the Mesmeric Govinda, who lightens up the screen everytime he comes on and of course the camoes by Kareena Kapoor Khan and Priety Zinta. Things that haven't quite worked in the films favor is it's weak screenplay and direction.

Filmy Verdict - The film has it's moments but they are too few and far between. With a plot that had a lot of potential and actors who had it in them to deliver, 'Happy Ending' leaves much to be desired, the saving grace being it's witty dialogues and decent performances by Saif Ali Khan & Govinda.

Filmy Feeling: