Waqt is Decent Waqt Pass!. Review on Waqt - A Race Against Time

Waqt is an average flick. It has its moments. Some are good, some are silly, and some are just annoying. Honestly, I was not looking forward to seeing this film. I expected it to be something like ''Baghbaan'', where the entire point was to make kids feel guilty about not supporting their parents. I am happy to report that Waqt is not like Baghbaan. Feel free to watch it with your parents. You won't feel guilty unless you have ripped them off of a lot of money, are over 30, unemployed, and still completely dependant on them.

The plot in short, revolves around a father, Amitabh Bachan, and his son, Akshay Kumar. Shefali Chaaya plays Amitabh's wife and Akshay's mother. Priyanka Chopra plays Akshay Kumar's girlfriend/later wife. Boman Irani is Priyanka's father (and I am not sure who plays Priyanka's mother.) Raj Pal Yadav plays the comic servant in Amitabh's household. Father, Amitabh, is a rich business man who has had the habit of indulging every whim of his only son Akshay Kumar. Mother, Shefali does not approve of this, but Amitabh continues to do this. Amitabh later learns that he has a deadly disease and finally realizes that he needs to teach his son to support himself and his wife (Priyanka) and their future child. The way he does this, and the affect on the father son relationship is what this film revolves around.

Firstly, let me say, some of the music of this film SUCKS and there is way too much of it. The initial song where Akshay Kumar undresses Priyanka ''with a blindfold on so he won't see anything'' is just plain pathetic. Leave it to good ol' Hindi cinema to show everything, imply everything, and yet never show a mouth to mouth kiss. This song is just plain cheap and unecessary. Anu Malik decides to make a guest appearance as a rapper/DJ in a dance number picturized on Akshay Kumar and Amitabh. BADDDD idea, Anu. When people saw you in the song, they knew the movie music was composed by you. Did you really want them to know this considering the horrible music?? But the award for the worst song of the film BY FAR goes to to the Holi song picturized on Akshay Kumar and Priyanka. They need to distribute earplugs prior to the movie just to save people from this disgusting number. The vocals and tune sound like nails being scratched on a chalkboard...

As for the performances, here goes. Amitabh is good, but well, the same. He has played this character in Baghbaan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum, and Ek Rishtaa. And here he is again, a loving dad who has been hurt by his ungrateful progeny. There is nothing different about his character. Amitabh is a brilliant actor, but the directors need to give him something different. Sanjay Leela Bhansali achieved this better than anyone in ''Black'' (where I think AB played the best role of his entire career.) But needless to say, even though his character was the same, it was played well. (Also, a new look would not hurt for the Big B...) Akshay Kumar has also played the role of the ungrateful progeny before. Again, nothing different about him. I have to wonder, why does Akshay Kumar always play the role of Amitabh's son?? The only similarity they have is that they are both tall and still have their hair... I think Abhishek Bachan should have played this role! He is also tall, still has his hair, and even looks like his Dad! (GASP!) Shefali acts very well, and looks very elegant, although I feel that she looks too young to play AB's wife and Akshay's mom, even with the streak of gray hair... Priyanka. Well, I am not a big fan of hers. But I guess she was more bearable here than in Mujse Shaadi Karogi. To her credit however, her acting is much better and toned down in the second half of the film.

In comic roles, Boman Irani and Rajpal Yadav do a decent job. Boman is great in his comic scenes with Amitabh. He is also great in the emotional scenes with Amitabh at the end of the movie. Rajpal Yadav's role is funny initially, but eventually gets irritating. Rajpal Yadav is a brilliant actor. I found him amazing in ''Mein Madhuri Dixit Bana Chahathi Hoo''. But unfortunate for him, he is not a tall, great looking guy. Directors need to give this guy substantive roles, because of his obvious talent... I hope he does not end up getting reduced to Johnny Lever type roles.

The plot of the film is not new, but it still keeps your interest. There are however, parts that are massively overdramatic. For example, Akshay becomes a stuntman being chased and attacked by man-eating dogs (these dogs could have had a great role in ''Kaal''!) during a scene in order to earn a few bucks for his wife and kid to be...Ummmm...I thought in the movie, he had an MBA... Wow! MBA's have to become stuntmen now... What next? PhD's cooking bhuttas on the street? Not to add, Akshay's taandav... Akshay with his see through Kurta doing his taandav looked liked Silk Smitha attempting Bharath Natyam.

All in all, if you watch it, it is decent waqt pass and you haven't wasted any waqt. On the other hand, if you don't watch it, you have saved some waqt. Basically, you aren't missing any groundbreaking cinema if you decide to pass on this one. But let me just add, compared to ''Kaal'', this film is ''kamaal'', but then so is my sock.