Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani

 

My roommate is getting me into Bollywood.....this will be short. Verdicts:

Rating: 3 Stars
(Not phenomenal, but worth it for the cultural insights/ a good springboard into other Bollywood movies)

Cultural differences: Intriguing. Everyone is unnaturally polished like in Boys over Flowers and it does smell of that Korean drama brand of cliche. That being said, there was an unexpected twist where one of the characters didn't end up with the guy she'd loved for years but who ignored her - instead with another rather frumpy, unattractive, but kind guy. Wasn't expecting that and it's what ultimately sets it apart from the normal Asian drama predictability.

Dance numbers: Upbeat, engaging, and very Bollywood-y.

Costumes: Puuuuurdy!

Humor: Laugh out loud funny in a few moments.

Theme: Best illustrated by one scene between the two main characters. The guy is the epitome of a restless 'wanderer' who wants to see and experience everything while the girl values her home and close friends. They are watching a sunset together, when the guy gets up and says it's time to go to a show. She says they should stay and watch for a bit longer, and he points out that they'll regret it if the show turns out to be really good - so better not to miss it. The girl then says 'we're always going to miss out on something in life', telling him that if we try to experience everything, we ultimately experience nothing of value. Overall, I liked it.