Bride and Prejudice (2004)
Bollywood meets Hollywood... And it's a perfect match
Starring: Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, Daniel Gillies, Naveen Andrews, Namrata Shirodkar, Indira Varma, Nadira Babbar, Anupam Kher, Meghna Kothan, Peeya Rai Rai Chowdhary, Nitin Chandra Ganatra Sonali Kulkami, Ashanti, Marsha Mason
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Running Time: 111 minutes
US MPAA rating: PG-13UK BBFC rating: 12a
Comedy, Musical, Romance
Like a three-week old bowl of egg vindaloo, 'Bride and Prejudice' can be a little hard to digest. As you'll probably be able to guess from the pun-tastic title, it's a take-off of Jane Austen's legendary toff tale 'Pride and Prejudice'. The twist? Most of the cast are Indian, it's got some finger-gnawingly bad musical sequences, and Mr Darcy's an American yuppy with a chip on his shoulder about arranged marriages. If it were somehow possible to throw Bollywood and Hollywood really hard against each other, the resultant splat would be this movie.
The idea to nick the basic plotline from a classic piece of English literature, mix in some generic romantic comedy, and present the whole thing in the style of an overblown Bollywood musical is the brainchild of writer-director Gurinder Chadha, the Kenyan-born Brit who previously brought us the thoroughly enjoyable 'Bend It Like Beckham'. But, in trying to merge together so many massively different styles and present them to a mainstream audience, there's always going to be a worry that she may have bitten off more than she can chew.
There's nothing particularly complicated about the plot itself. Aishwarya Rai plays eligible Indian gal Lalita who, for the stream of men longing to have themselves fixed up with such a hottie, is full of Eastern promise. Romance looks like the last thing on the cards, though, when she bumps into the smarmy Will Darcy (Martin Henderson) at a family bash. With his refusal to even attempt to conceal his complete ignorance of Indian culture and his condescending remarks about "Delhi Belly", he's every bit the obnoxious Yank abroad. Brainless bestubbled beach hunk Johnny Wickham looks a far more appropriate object of her affections - but is he all he appears? In a word, no. Of course he's not.
Most of the lead performances are less than polished, and it's generally the supporting players who are left to provide the memorable turns (notably Nadira Babbar as Lalita's marriage-obsessed mum and David Baddiel look-a-like Nitin Ganatra as an uncomfortably Americanized suitor). If you head along to watch it you should also brace yourself for some of the outright worst musical segments in celluloid history, with some genuinely terrible melodies hidden only by the sheer horror of the lyrics. One more criticism: it's far too long to maintain its self-imposed in-your-face momentum, and could easily have had 20 minutes lopped off its running time.
But, for all its faults, it's actually quite good fun. It captures the colours and brightness of Bollywood fantastically well, and has been put together with such spirit and gusto that it's impossible not to enjoy at least some of it. True, parts of it are really, REALLY bad - but at times it's almost as if everyone involved is having such a good time that it seems cruel to tell them. So I'll hold back from knocking it any further and simply say that if you're a little bored of standard cinema fare and fancy seeing something upbeat and different, give 'Bride and Prejudice' a go.
It's Got: Cross-dressers, surfers, a Gospel choir, more midriff than a Britney greatest hits DVD, and me in the mood for a curry.
It Needs: To do something about those God-awful musical numbers!
Alternatives: Bend It Like Beckham, Bhaji on the Beach
Summary: A lively attempt at adapting Bollywood for the masses - all you need is a set of ear-plugs and you're good to go.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 26th October 2004
External Links
Official Web Site
Bride and Prejudice at the IMDB
Comments43 Comments |
| IT's colourful,lively,creative movie .Don't expect to see a novel in a movie 'cause you 're supposed to read not see .Then why not enjoy a new atmosphere ? |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 02 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think this films rocks and it is phat.aishwarya rai is a wicked bollywood star and ashanti rocks in da film. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 03 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| ****tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt |
| Comment by:- beugum | | 03 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| its a rubbish film it is taking the mick out of asians half of the things involved are/is rubbish they need to restructure evrything but the acteresses are fit |
| Comment by:- jhanz | | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| Iz tru, thet are takin da mic outa indians but ashanti's song is heavi!Amritsar looks wikid!Big-up SIKHISM! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 07 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| no life without wife! |
| Comment by:- sihari and bihari | | 10 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| Who wants to see my cobra dance? |
| Comment by:- SSSssssssssss! | | 10 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was gd......xpected much more tho!!! itbwas really funny too!!! |
| Comment by:- Desi_Fly_Chick | | 10 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| not as good as i thought it would be. some funny bits but overall pretty crap. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 11 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think its wicked iluv it iwish i could be an actree |
| Comment by:- maria | www.movie-gazette.com... | 12 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| YAH!!!!! ITS AISHWARYA!!!.......who cares about nething else...its totally the best to have her in some other movie besides our usual bollywood flicks. I think that everyone should like freak and watch this beautiful woman do her thing in Bride and Prejudice! :-D |
| Comment by:- SHeEnErZ | | 13 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| wow wht bright colours!!!! tis aaaallllllllllllright could have had more scenes showing the actual romance. it was more like hate hate between darcy and lalita. but goooodd they choose ash to represent india, she the bomb!!! |
| Comment by:- slayer | | 15 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| dont forget namrata! god. you ppl! she was wicked to u know. |
| Comment by:- you dont need to know | | 15 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The worst and most senseless movie of the year! The movie has absolutely no point and most of the Indian girls are not so desperate to find 'foreign-bred' grooms! There is absolutely no chemistry between the pairs and the performances are at their worst! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| the film was grt balle balle was wicked |
| Comment by:- desi | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was absloute rubbish it takes mic out of indis they seriously need 2 know how to set a film out proper i preffered Bend It Like Beckham more interesting. I think latita is FIT she rung me yesterday she wanted 2 marry me but i said NO! |
| Comment by:- Waqy | | 17 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| mad film man |
| Comment by:- huhhjdshjhjsh | | 18 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| This film is wicked i could watch it very minute of the day!! it is wickd n i luv bend it like beckam!! AHWAIRYA RAI IS SO PRETTY!! N SO R U LUKHI!! |
| Comment by:- !!RhIaNnA!! | | 19 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| It was great fun watching it..laughed my heart out too. But the romance between Lalita & Darcy needs to be better portrayed...othee than that, it was mad fun! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 20 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment by:- SAM | | 21 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| it was quite bad actually, nothing i expected from gurinder chadha. aishwariya looked quite wrong in that role... she should stick to bollywood movies :S... |
| Comment by:- Anon. | | 26 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| the only gud thing bout dis film is th song balle balle and Martin henderson. |
| Comment by:- alima | | 27 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The film was wicked, i could watch any minute of it and Aishwarya Rai is so pretty. Comment by Paljinder Sandhu. |
| Comment by:- Paljinder Sandhu | | 27 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The film was wicked and i laughed my heart out too. AIHWARYA RAI is one of the best actresses. AISHWARYA RAI YOUR THE BEST. |
| Comment by:- PALLY | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| YO PALLY'S LYING SHE AIN'T WATCHED NO FILM SHE JUST COPY EVERYBODY ELSE |
| Comment by:- SNOOP DOGG | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| Snoop Dogg's just jealous because he hasn't watched it. |
| Comment by:- PALLY | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| i lov dis film i tink it is fab |
| Comment by:- tazmania | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| dis film waz ok but i prefer bend it like bekham. i liked 1 of de songz frm bride and prejudice BALLE BALLE. dat song rokz |
| Comment by:- ls6 ,brumy and manchester crew PAKIZ | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| hi 2 all pakiz out dere including ma cuzyz,auntie,uncle,mum,dad and de rst of ma family and who evr else i no..RESPECT.. |
| Comment by:- SHORTY | | 28 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| The director failed to bring down the beauty of jane austin's writing to the screen , if the viewer has not read the novel, the movie would seem confusing to him/her, and if the viewer has read , then he/she would find it very terse. The novel and its beauty needed much elaboration in the movie.Though the cast was no doubt good and Martin was very handsome. |
| Comment by:- varsha bajpai | | 29 November 2004 | ip: logged |
| omg wat a crapmovie and a a waste of time. it's a typical wannabe movie.aishwaria is crap in it as usual. i hated the movie and all the stars were crap. i wouldn't even rate it 1/10. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 01 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| aishwaria is a fake bitch |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 01 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| How dare you call Aishwaria a fake bitch, I think you must be a fake bitch!!bitch!! |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 02 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I happen to think the movie was very good, Ash and Martin both acted well. |
| Comment by:- S.J. | | 02 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think the movie was great and Martin Henderson is hoooooooooottt! it was a funny movie. all the acters were great too. How dare you who thinks that Aiswaria is a fake bith. She is pretty good actress. |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 03 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| All the acters were great and it was a funny movie and the song balle balle was grt and who ever called aishwaria a fake bitch must be one theirselves. |
| Comment by:- Paljinder Sandhu | | 05 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| The movie was AWESOME!!! |
| Comment by:- FJ | | 05 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I know it is AWESOME. |
| Comment by:- PALJINDER | | 06 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I know it is AWESOME. |
| Comment by:- PALJINDER | | 06 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I loved the movie. The cast was great and the songs are very elaboratedly done. |
| Comment by:- Fizah | | 06 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| could have been better...its pretty much a waste of time.. the stars look pretty good though. |
| Comment by:- jessy | | 20 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i think that the movie Bride & Prejudice is wicked i loved it |
| Comment by:- aisha | | 02 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| I LuVeD DiZ FiLM....I ThoughT it WaZ PoPp!N..... (AnD If N.E. On3 Doe$n'T LyK Thi$ FiLM $houLdn'T Po$T TheiR CommEnTs CuZ Thi$ FiLm Doe$n'T DeSeRvE N.E. NeGaTiVe OuTPuTs........ |
| Comment by:- AzToRiaZChicK | | 21 March 2005 | ip: logged |
