Movie Review - We Are Family

By: Amit R Agarwal









First things first, Karan Johar needs a pat on his back for giving India its first official remake of a Hollywood hit; Chris Columbus' 1998 film Stepmom. Hopefully it will pave way for more film-makers to go about remaking a film officially, rather than merely get ‘inspired’.

However, that’s where the good news ends, because We Are Family is a tiring film that doesn’t touch anyone emotionally.

Aman (Arjun Rampal) is a photographer. He is divorced from his wife Maya (Kajol), but the divorce is amicable and he doles out on his kids - Aliya, Ankush and Anjali.

Aman, now has a steady girlfriend, Shreya (Kareena Kapoor), a designer.

Problem arises when Aman introduces Shreya to his kids; but his kids particularly Aliya takes an instant dislike for Sherya.

The conflict arises when Maya is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Maya wants to leave her kids with a ‘mom’ and Shreya is the best to fill in.

How Maya goes about transforming career-oriented Shreya into a lovable-dutiful mom forms the narrative.

The premise is good and though there have been umpteen Hindi films with the plot titled Aulaad, Santaan, etc. in the past; the approach is very modern, but still the film falters. Ironic, it may sound but the reason film falters is its screenplay or to put it in a correct cinematic tone – adapted screenplay.

There is just no life in the movie. Kajol and the kids try hard to infuse life into the narrative, but the scenes have a, been there, seen them, kind of a feel.

If by the end, the eyes are watery, it’s not because of some emotional connect, but because of the incessant yawns, a viewer is subjected to.


What rocks the movie:
Kajol’s performance

What chucks the movie:
A lifeless screenplay
Music, even the famed Jailhouse Rock adaptation fails to fire up the screen.

VERDICT:
If your idea is entertainment, you are surely going to be disappointed by We Are Family.


July 21 '10; the day Indian Film Industry got INDEPENDENT!