Five minutes into Speedy Singhs and you know how exactly the film is going to map out.
Speedy Singhs
U; Comedy, drama
Dir: Robert Lieberman
Cast: Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Camilla Belle, Anupam Kher and Akshay Kumar (special appearance)
Rating: '' 1/2
Five minutes into Speedy Singhs and you know how exactly the film is going to map out. However, in spite of a predictable and yawn-inducing storyline, Speedy Singhs does manage to entertain through its humour.
Set in Canada, the film speaks about a Sikh family. The elder son Rajvir (newcomer Vinay Virmani) wants to be an ice hockey player, but his father (Anupam Kher) is keen that he gets himself a 'decent' job. Rajvir is therefore forced to work at his uncle's truck company. However, he somehow manages to hoodwink his dad and practice ice hockey with his buddies.
The story offers no novelty. A typical Bend it like Beckham kind of a tale, it is yet again about the underdogs who go on to become champions against all odds and expectations. And, yes, there's also the stereotypical disgraced hockey player (remember Chak De?) Dan (Robert Lowe) who coaches them to success (how original, right?).
Rajvir's big-hearted chacha provides the finance. No sports story is complete without a romantic track running in the background. So, in Speedy Singhs, you have Camilla Peters (playing Dan's sister Melissa, also law student) play Rajvir's love interest.
It is the easy, humorous dialogues that save the film from falling into a rut. At times flaky, but generally breezy and in some places even hilarious, it's the humour which keeps this movie together.
Russel Peters who plays Sonu, a greedy man who is engaged to Rajvir's cousin, is brilliant with his one liners. In fact, Vinay also gives a pretty confident performance, considering this is his first film. Anupam Kher has played such a character so often that he sleepwalks through this role effortlessly.
If you are looking for originality or anything deeper, this is not for you. Go for it only if you are looking for a light but forgettable watch.u00a0 While Akshay Kumar's cameo looks a little forced,u00a0 his item song should delight his fans.
