Shreyas Talpade’s new film Bombay to Bangkok is boring, with low production values, and an uninteresting view of Thailand. Bombay to Bangkok is a Hindi movie directed by the acclaimed director Nagesh Kukunoor. It stars the versatile Shreyas Talpade [of Iqbal fame] as the male lead and newcomer Lina Christianson as his muse.
The absurd nature of the story is evident from scene one. The plotline and the direction are far less worth in quality from the earlier films by the director and a disappointment to his ardent fans. The story is dull and conventional. Though the direction could be given some kudos, but the overall image is not so rosy. While shooting in Bangkok, the director (and his cinematographer) fails to bank on the beauty and exotic locales of Thailand. Another major flaw is the woody characterization and lack luster acting by the female lead, Lina Christianson. The recurring dream sequences gets annoying gradually and fails to evoke humor. Slapstick humor and in-your-face comedy tactics are used to woo the viewer which is to no avail. A cameo by Naseeruddin Shah is absolutely unnecessary and contributes only the star value to the film and none to the plot. The climax of the movie is arid and absurd. The only culture Kukunoor depicts involves a group of traditional dancers, initiating into monkhood, insect food platter, bowls of Pad Thai noodles, Shah Rukh Khan-loving locals, amusing accents and massage parlour women looking to ‘make happy’. That too through the medium of Sudeep Chaterjee’s lacklustre camerawork and Kukunoor’s feeble writing.
But there is some positive aspects in the film too. Shreyas’ acting is the only saving grace of the film. As he his earlier efforts, this time he walks away with accolades even for a poorly written character. Also the comic act from Vijay Maurya, as he tries to rap and don the Don’s mantle, is pretty humorous.
Overall a film you may watch if you have nothing else to do on a boring weekend!