Bollywood meets Jane Austin in Bride & Prejudice. Who could have guessed it would be a perfect match. I am loathe to admit once more that I love a romance movie. Maybe underneath it all, I really am a romantic and just need to be loved. If only I had someone to blow out of an airlock!
You have to admire Gurinder Chadha for her work on this film. The song and dance numbers are fabulous. Gene Kelly may not have choreographed the thing, but that's part of it's charm. Watch the scene for "No Life without Wife." I know I felt like getting up and dancing.
One scene that I would like to point out happens near the end of the film. Lalita and Darcy are chasing after Wickham and Lalita's little sister, Lakhi. Lakhi has run off with Wickham and they are trying to bring her back before...well, you probably get the idea. Darcy & Lalita follow Wickham and Lakhi into a movie theater, which is of course playing a Bollywood film. Darcy catches up to Wickham inside a theater and they fight. As they fight, in the background, the movie screen shows a fight scene from the Bollywood film. Punches are thrown in sync and of course Darcy wins. It's actually quite interesting to watch. I don't know what the movie is that is playing in the background, but it parallels the action that is going on between Darcy, Wickham and Lakhi. A nice touch if you ask me.
One more thing, if you watch this film, count the number of times people kiss. They don't really. It's only implied. Bollywood production codes are rather strict on that subject it seems.
Now, to buy the soundtrack...
I had no idea what I was getting into when I went to this movie with friends, they told me it was a Jane Austen adaptation (they know my weakness well). In the past I have attempted to watch “My Fair Lady”, plus other musicals out of cultural guilt, and while all of them almost collectively induced an aneurysm I thought I was a goner when Bride and Prejudice started (for I couldn’t leave). With other musicals I would have to watch them in short sessions or the throbbing pain would begin, which lead me to believe my musical days were over, although I do have a weakness for Oklahoma (which I can not believe I am admitting).
With this film (Bride…) at least there was more dialog instead of the insane repeating where you want to stand up and scream (I get it! move on! no more refrains! STOP SINGING!)
I am not completely converted back to the musical however, but this one didn't make my skin crawl and it was entertaining and had some good eye candy. So if Hope has some more Bollywood suggestions I will check them out but this time in the privacy of my home so if I have to vent on the singing I can pause the DVD.