The New Review For Bang Bang (2014)

Bang Bang (2014) Film Review

Russell Peters was incredibly accurate in his assertion during a stand up comedy performance that the Indian culture (paraphrasing) is ideal for breaking up tension.  Bang Bang is the perfect action film for escapism. This term has often been used as an excuse for a lack of substance or creativity. In this case it is meant as the highest compliment as this action comedy is stocked highly in both style and substance. If you were unfamiliar with Bollywood (the blend of Bombay/Mumbai and Hollywood) then this would be a good place to start.

Bang Bang is the Bollywood version of Knight And Day  (2010), which starred Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. The thing about Bollywood that usually stands out to those unaccustomed to its tropes is the sudden onset of musical expression (videos) that pops up throughout and the unexplained changes of location this usually brings. This of course adds to the duration; not that this is a bad thing. The film does all it can to entertain and relax its audience simultaneously. The locations are beautiful and the action fast paced without taking itself so seriously that it breaks the illusion.

Bang Bang starts off somewhat disappointingly as the opening act is not explained very well. Also the execution of its objective was a little too easy to pull off. Law enforcement in action films tend to have little to no organisation or acceptable levels of cognition where it pertains to minimising risks.  Bang Bang takes this to a whole new level of ineptitude (laughably so). This soliloquy will all make sense upon viewing the film. After the first act we are dropped into what will form the love story (underbelly) of the film. It felt somewhat forced and could have been weaved into the fabric of the narrative a touch more skilfully. With that being said once the film gets on the way, this is soon enough forgotten as you are swept away on an adventure. A man of mystery Rajveer Nanda (Hrithik Roshan) is literally a man on a mission. He lives his life a day at a time (?ka dina), which is the binary opposite of the beautiful Harleen Sahni (Katrina Kaif) who is a passenger watching her life and indeed her youth pass her by uneventfully. Fate conspires to bring them together by chance (this is an action comedy after all).

The stunts and action scenes fit very well and are by no means average. The flyboarding sequence demonstrates this perfectly. The chemistry between both leads is believable and quite special to see. Their love story does not hinder the film as much as it serves to enhance the journey. This is also one of the films great many strengths.  With that being said, Bang Bang possibly does itself a disservice by not ending a little sooner (153 mins). Also (strangely) by not including English subtitles on the musical scenes. There are more reasons for watching Bang Bang than against while it is in cinemas. Looking for a new experience? Hoping to avoid the crowded screens for more mainstream films? You would be hard pressed to find a better film. Bang Bang gets 6.5/10 from Written Mirror.