Movie Review I, Me Aur Main: Could have been a slap-up romantic comedy

Cast: John Abraham, Chitrangada Singh, Prachi Desai, Raima Sen, Mini Mathur, Zarina Wahab

Director: Kapil Sharma

The Indian Express rating: **

The idea that a mommy's boy can, notionally, grow up is a deeply attractive one. This uphill task is what John Abraham's very-pleased-with-himself leading man is set up for in the self-explicatory 'I, Me Aur Main'. Given his job description, we know that Ishan Sabharwal will have to move a few notches up the growth scale: making him do it is the job of all the good-looking ladies in the cast.

Said Mister Sabharwal is in a steady relationship but doesn't want to commit. What did you expect? Which is a problem for girlfriend Anushka ( Singh). No surprises there either. Into the widening gap arrives the chirpy Gauri ( Desai), who is up for a chuckle which could, conceivably, turn into a cuddle. So here's the man oscillating between two women, while also keeping affectionate sister Shivani ( Mathur) and mother ( Wahab) busy trying to sort out his messes.

This could have been a slap-up rom com. But the trouble with this good-looking movie is that it is patchily written and performed, and often feels contrived. Of course over-indulgent mothers can turn their little boys into entitled monsters, but all it takes for 'maa' Wahab to realize it is one impassioned speech by 'behen' Mathur? Desai tries too hard at being perky. Singh, I've been thinking since her last outing in 'Inkaar', should stop looking so immaculately groomed, because she just comes off being same. And did I mention Sen who plays Abraham's snarky employer? No? Because we never see her being anything else.

But the women are still all right. It is the man, ironically, who is the weakest link. Abraham gets a lot of screen time but doesn't have the range to keep us interested all the way through, despite frequently flashing impressive upper body musculature ( no booty, alas, ladies please note ). To make up for his sins, he's handed a quite unexpected bit of baggage, but what we end with is this: whipping off apparel is the easy part, being grown up is a toughie.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Review Shootout At Wadala: Gives us a bunch of gangsters and cops

Movie Review: Celluloid Man is a true labour of love

Movie Review: Bombay Talkies fills one with hope

Movie review: 'Aashiqui 2'