Movie Review

Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

This Ghost is Full of Life

TSI Five-O : Brad Bird’s the best

Praise seems to be flowing-in from all directions, and rightfully so, for Brad Bird, the director of Ghost Protocol. With a tendency to execute stunning sequences as close to reality as possible, Bird keeps the audience hooked throughout the movie. Also commendable is the film’s refusal to fall into the trap of making the star bigger than the movie.

The plot involves IMF being falsely implicated in a terrorist attack, and forced to shut down. Ghost protocol is invoked. A team of agents are now on a mission to clear their agency’s name while struggling to stay alive. What follows next is a series of action sequences in different parts of the world, with the death-defying stunts in Dubai taking the cake.

Ghost Protocol takes liberties common to most action flicks. Despite being banned and on the run, the team always seems to know the right people to finish a job or always has enough resources to pull-off outrageous acts of daredevilry. This, however, doesn’t take much away from the sensible take on the thought process of the lead characters. Even Ethan Hunt shudders at some of the things that he is forced to do. In terms of action, there is a chase through a sandstorm that stands-out for its brilliance. Cruise shows the world why filmmakers still swear by him despite an indifferent last few years. One line for the Indian fans though. Anil Kapoor, who plays a Mumbai playboy, is barely there in the film. So, if that’s the only reason you want to watch this movie, don’t bother. On the other hand, if you like action,
don’t miss it.

Pappu Can’t Dance Sala

Pappu falls flat

TSI Five-O: A decent film, but we’ve seen the likes...

You would be forgiven for having missed this one altogether. With a title so obviously borrowed from a popular song, a tragically low-budget and a launch-lacking ambition, Pappu and his dance were left reeling in the darkness.

But did it deserve any shade? Without a ‘shadow’ of a doubt. Pun intended.

Vidyadhar Acharya (Vinay Pathak) is a small-town man living as an illegal tenant in Mumbai. His neighbour, a party-loving and fame-hounding aspiring actress, Mehek Malvade (Neha Dhupia), is also from a small town. Obviously they aren’t perfect neighbours. But a series of ever-so-predictable turn of events lead them to live under the same roof! And then there is attraction.

The acting in this one cannot be questioned. But Mr Pathak’s self-imposed typecast can. Where he was fabulous in Bheja Fry, continuing with more or less the same gag over a number of movies for the next couple of years can plainly fry people’s brains quite effectively.

Neha Dhupia though deserves a special mention. She does justice to her role and the odd-couple’s chemistry is warm and quite believable.

While the movie may be criticised for lacking a definite central theme, the overall package is quite easily digestible.