Sequel.PHP (Done with errors). Review on Phir Hera Pheri

For a pinch of time, I thought I revisited history. Year 2000 and date Friday, March 31st. A date that will never be forgotten coz the same day we had final exam of 12th C.B.S.E boards and the moment we finished with it. All we did is marched into the theatre to watch Hera Pheriwith no expectations whatsoever. We were humbled and not only that it was foregone for us that this would turn into one of the comic cults of this decade.

Year is 2006. You saw them 6 years ago and now see them again winding into a whirlwind of confusing situations and then getting out of it rather successfully leaving us with nothing but in splits. Phir Hera Pheriproduced by Firoz Nadiadwalastarts the sequel year i.e. 2006 and as it turns out I would say that it would certainly take some time for us to better the originals.

.PHP/Plot

Raju, Shyam and BRGRA i.e. Babu Rao Ganpat Rao Aapte are rich, obvious from the money they ended up with 6 years ago. Still Raju's instincts to earn more via Hera Phering isn't gone. They loose money thanks to him and then now they want to earn it back. Its upto these 3, goons and antic guns plus many other situations that the film now revolves. For more Phir Hera Pheri is all yours.

.PHP/Proceedings/Logic

I take this as an oppurtunity to issue a warning. Leave your thinking caps home, this movie may seem to be illogical from the word go. So it begins and believe me the impact of the franchise i.e the original is so much that moment we see our principle star cast we start laughing. I was taken aback as to why I am laughing to even not so funny things, impact I guess. First half is worth every thing you spent on popcorn and colddrinks. Writer and Director Neeraj Vohraensures that he gets in the old sequences back to the forefront to get audience involved like

Sunil Shetty's golmaal track while signing anything.

The red dial the ring phone.

Dhoti sequence.

Its there to involves us plus the movie introduces other characters in the fray making it absolutely worthwhile first half as you would be more busy laughing then thinking whats going on with the screenplay which actually looks more of a prolonged troubles i.e. the 3 of them losing money and then trying to make it. Well as I said laughter takes the front seat and hence no thinking left. Surely few sore points that do come up is that Cinematographyis weak. The pictures looks rusty and hazy at many places which seriously was much better in the original. Plus the setting is rather too oridinary for a movie like this. This is where Sabu Cyrilwas required coz I felt .PHP lacked the production values. So techinically on cinematic viewing front the movie is tepid.

Editing,hmm. This movie needs knives to cut around 30 mins of it. 17 reels are too much of a movie like this when your plot isnt thick enough to sustain the length :P. Directionseriously tries to elevate the movie into the same league as the original but falls prey to using same antics and tried and tested methods to end the movie. Infact the ending will give you a feel of Priyan movies like Malamaal Weekly and others.

Himeshfails as a music director to be honest on him. His tracks are average and looked forced into the narrative. The dream songs which ensured good flow in the original i.e. Dene Waala jub bhi deta. Here the songs are just there for the inclusion. The Jumme Raat song comes in the end.

The movie's high points are ofcourse Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar. Boy 10/10 to them to really make this spin of laughter which otherwise looked weak. Sunil Shetty's roles has been somehow subsided and hasn't made the same confusing laughter that we had with the Kabira speaking Shyam in the original. But whenever these 3 are on the screen you better watch and you are sure to laugh. The movie packs in enough to ensure that you come out contented with it and ofcourse smiling. I guess Paresh Rawal is more then just a character now, he is turning into the main lead nowadays. Akshay after this I can say that has the best comic timing in the industry.

For the girls as in Bipasha and Rimmi. They don't have much to contribute except few dances and some involvement in helping the three. So they are Okay.

.PHP/Hilarious

Paresh Rawal getting used to with rich life. His antics are worth every penny.

Akshay Kumar scheming and arranging money.

Plus the usual Aae Raju and Babu Bhaiyaa chants are elevative.

The climax as I said is tried and tested hence ensures we are laughing out loud but it drags and many a times I dunno what I was a laughing at. But all said and done its Raju, Shyam and Babu Bhaiyya. I love them all on screen so I went in and yes I was happy coming. .PHP is worth a watch.

Cticize's Quote:"The movie is worth everything if you don't think. If you get deep and analyze it then you will miss the train of laughter. Enjoy it but you might feel that its a little too long.

Rating is good coz MS has new colored buttons :P plus commenting is very good coz I will reply them.

© Cticize June, 2006.

PS: The sequel for PHP looks on cars especially the way it ended. Alag looks Alag Thalag to me (Going by its trailer).