Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic

Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic -- A Little Love, a Little Magic

MAIN CAST

Rani Mukherji -- Geeta

Saif Ali Khan -- Ranbeer

Akshat Chopra -- Vashisht

Rachit Sidana -- Iqbal

Shriya Sharma -- Aditi
Ayushi Berman -- Avantika

BASIC PLOT OVERVIEW:

Abandoned by everyone he's ever loved, Ranbeer throws himself in to contests and competitions, always winning first place as he tries to fill the gap in his life. He grows up to be an extremely wealthy businessman with little time for others. When he kills a couple in a car accident, the judge hands down an unprecedented punishment: Ranbeer will take care of the couples' 4 orphaned children (as well as their dog and hampster!). Ranbeer has a tough time connecting to the children, so God sends his favorite angel, Geeta, to act as a nanny and help the family come together.

FILM -- 4/5

Alright, so it's not the most amazing script ever, and it's been done before. But Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic so damn cute! With the exception of the "Lazy Moments" song (discussed later), this is most definitely a family movie. It's simple, sweet, and very fun, and I thought it was entertaining from heart-to-finish, if a little cliche. The special effects are often very cartoony and "fake," but I thought it added to the magical atmosphere of the film. The costuming is top-notch, and the little bit of dancing is well-choreographed. I do think there's some sloppy editing; for example, the animal actors are specifically introduced in the beginning of the film, but they really don't show up after the interval. If you take TPTM for what it is--a sweet, child-friendly timepass--you're bound to enjoy it!

CHARACTERS -- 5/5

Call me trite, but I really loved the characters in this movie, and I can see small children loving them, too. I've never been a Saif Ali Khan fan, but this movie changed my mind; he is a great actor, and he's surprisingly handsome and charismatic! He'll win you over within the first hour of the film, even when he's acting like a bit of a douchebag. Rani Mukherji is adorable and looks super-cute. This role doesn't ask much of her, but she's a natural at "spunky woman" parts, so I won't fuss about it. The child actors are absolutely ADORABLE! I especially loved Rachit Sidana, who played the adopted Sikh boy Iqbal. Amisha Patel has a short run as Ranbeer's obnoxious girlfriend Malaika, and I thought she was pretty funny. One of the highlights of the cast is Rishi Kapoor, who shows up as God. I really liked how God was portrayed in this film: technically, yes, he's the "Christian God," but TPTM focuses less on actual religious beliefs and more on one's deeds. Rishi Kapoor's God is a universal (and rather funny) character who watches over everyone. As Ranbeer says towards the end: "All Gods are one." In other words, even if you aren't a Christian, this movie's portrayal of God will not offend you--it's very open-minded and kid-friendly!

SOUNDTRACK -- 3/5

The first song, "Pyaar Ke Liye," a lament to the young Ranbeer's loneliness, is absolutely beautiful. Refrains from this song play all throughout the film; I thought they were ill-timed at certain parts, but I'll let that slide. "Beetey Kal Se" annoyed me a little, because while it's a very fun song, it has a very heavy-handed message attached to it that I felt was really out of place. Granted, a small child won't pick up on that--I never picked up on the enviornmentalist themes in Ferngully until I was in high school--but it still grated on me. "Bulbula" is cheesey and has some of the stupidest lyrics I've ever heard, but it's catchy if you're under the age of 12. "Lazy Moments" is a bouncey club song that I like off-screen, but fair warning: Amisha Patel and Saif Ali Khan get really sexual for the first 2/3 of it in-film. I thought that was REALLY inappropriate for a family movie. If you're watching TPTM with children, be prepared to skip over "Lazy Moments." "Nilhaal Ho Gayi," however, is how family film love songs should be made!

OVERALL -- 3.5/5

This movie isn't perfect--not by a long shot--and there are much better family films that deal with the same subject and themes. Yet Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic is surprisingly good, in that super-saccharine, kid-friendly sort of way. Most Bollywood films drag in some places, but I was shocked when the intermission popped up in TPTM--I didn't realize so much time had passed! I whole-heartedly recommend this movie to people who have a high tolerance for sap or want a flick they can watch with the kids around. It's infectuous, adorable, and just plain fun.

TOTAL SCORE -- 15.5/20 (great)