Review: 'United Six' is neither a chick flick nor a thriller

United Six (A)

Cast: Parvathy Omanakuttan, Daisy Bopanna, Luna Lahkar, Mahi, Isha Batwe, Pooja Sharma

Director: Vishal Aryan Singh
Rating: **

 

After a 'boy' flick —Dil Toh Bacccha Hai Ji last week, Bollywood offers and all girl film —United Six this weekend.

 

United Six is the story of a close close-knit gang of girls —Shaina (Omanakuttan), Jia (Bopanna), Tia (Mahi), Tootsie (Sharma), Maddy (Lahkar) and Candy (Batwe). They all have the usual problems like sexual harassment at work, cheating boyfriends and career issues. What do they do about these problems? They drink, dance around poles, then drink a little more to forget their woes.

 

After their done downing vodka shots and bitching, the girls flirt with the idea to rob a bank and escape to another country with the booty to start a new life of comfort and luxury. The idea becomes an obsession for Jia, an ex-employee of the bank, who takes it upon herself to convince the other five. Jia wants revenge from the pervert bank manager who fires her for refusing to give into his advances. 

To begin with, the premise of the film is extremely unconvincing. The girls gear up with spades, ropes, guns, shovels and an elaborate but tough plan to loot Lloyd’s Bank. The director cautiously tracks the girls’ progress in the mission, which is finally aborted halfway through. The twist in the tale comes when the bank actually gets robbed.

 

Director Singh has an unoriginal idea, innovatively written only for an all female cast. But the treatment could have been creative and swift in terms of dialogue and plot movement. Scenes at the bar and item songs seem endless and unnecessary. They just end up diluting the already unsubstantial thrill quotient of the film.

 

None of the actors show exceptional talent either, but the director makes sure all the six get equal screen space without bigger names like Omanakuttan overshadowing the others. The former beauty queen is passable and so are the others. Bopanna deserves special mention for portraying her character with conviction. None of the performances stick with you. The director does a good job building up to the completely unexpected climax.

 

Six pairs of hot legs, constantly on the run about Bangkok in skimpy outfits sounds like a great idea for a boys’ movie night. United Six may have a lot of chicks but is no chick flick. The film engages you, but only in parts. Unless half-baked entertainment is your thing, don't bother with this one.