Review: Aladin's wasted wishes

Film: Aladin (U)
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez
Rating: **

A fun chase through the fictitious town of Khwaish gives you a glimmer of hope as Aladin (Deshmukh) constantly explains to his bullies that he is not the Aladin of genie fame. Thereafter, as you await the dazzle and awesome effects, all you are left exclaiming at are Bachchan’s ornate jackets, Sahil Khan’s makeup, and Fernandez’s superfluous presence. The evil and ambitious Ring Master (Dutt) is underexplored and the story too confusing for adults, leave alone children.

The errant Ring Master, with the help of a team of circus freaks, wants the magic lamp to capture the reflection of a comet to regain his genie powers and rule the world (or some such). Orphaned, lonely loser Aladin wants only Jasmine (Fernandez) and wastes all his three wishes only on her. Genius wants to fulfil Aladin’s three wishes and retire peacefully.

Deshmukh is endearing as the innocent, pure soul, but the characterisation hardly gives him an opportunity to display other dimensions. Fernandez looks too old for Deshmukh and is not natural. Bachchan as Genius, the close-to-retirement genie released from an ancient lamp, adds zing, but it’s not enough to rescue this bore burdened by a forgettable soundtrack by Vishal-Shekhar and one too many choreographed songs. Dutt isn’t given enough scope to impress.

Director Ghosh’s most ambitious venture till date is derailed by a tedious plot and dialogues. The mystery, fantasy world is overrun by a juvenile love story. The sets, some of the effects, and the occasional scene give moments of relief. Not that you are sure which era this is; it looks old world, but then there is a reference to Google. Unless the bucks are thrown in that direction, most of the art and SFX look derivative and sloppy.

You are left wondering who films like this will appeal to. They are not amazing enough for adults or fun enough for kids. If I had a magic lamp, I would use one wish to ask for some decent, sincere films, the kind Ghosh made once upon a time (Jhankaar Beats).