Review: 'Speedy Singhs' is a 'Bend it like Beckham' on the ice rink!

Film: Speedy Singhs
Director: Robert Lieberman
Cast: Vinay Virmani, Anupam Kher, Camilla Belle, Russell Peters and Rob Lowe
Rating: ***

The film evokes a strong sense of déjà vu right from the word go. It’s Bend it Like Beckham meets Patiala House. So you have a typical Punjabi family settled in an Indian community abroad, a dictator-like-dad maha-unhappy with their daughter/son’s choice to pursue their passion for sports, a wedding in the family and a predictable climax in the stadium. But once you overlook all this, Speedy Singhs takes you on an entertaining ride.

So there’s Rajveer Singh (Vinay) whose heart beats for ice-hockey, while dad Darvesh Singh (Anupam) wants him to join his brother’s transport business.

Though settled in Canada, the family is seeped in Indian culture and that includes considering every sport other than cricket a waste of time. To add to this woes, there’s Sam (Peters) his cousin sister’s fiancé, who considers Rajveer competition in their family business.

When the chances of Rajveer making it to the top team, Hammerheads, seems impossible thanks to his Indian roots, Harry forms his own team Speedy Singhs with fellow Sikhs under coach Dan Winters (Lowe). Dan’s sister (Camilla) is Rajveer’s love interest. How the Singhs take on the Hammerheads forms the rest of the story.

The highlights of the film are definitely the super-crisp dialogues topped with an impeccable comic timing, that’s maintained consistently on a high tempo all through and the film’s fast pace.

The audience is spared of the technicalities of the sport, but is kept aware of what’s going on in the game. The music is tappy enough to enjoy and the beats stay in tandem with the highs and lows of the film.

The only chink in the armour is the story that could’ve been worked on, but on the upside the film is minus the melodrama that happens in the wake of the protagonist ditching his father’s dreams to fulfill his own.

Also refreshingly, Harry is unapologetic about his passion and takes on all obstacles with his smarty-pants attitude, so you don’t feel sorry for him, but are with him all through hoping that he succeeds.

The director handles all the relationship angles between the hero and his father, mother, brother, cousin, her fiancé, the opponent, uncle, girlfriend, coach, his team rather well and there’s no beating about the bush as far as emotions are concerned.

All actors give convincing performances and a thumbs up to the high-on-energy-new-kid-on-the-block Vinay, who looks promising. Camilla and Lowe do good jobs too.

Overall, it’s a fun two-hour watch with friends or family over a bucket of popcorn.