Love Story 2050 (Movie Review)

Wish Harry Baweja had kept it simple. By the look of the film's first half, it seems a love story set in 2008 would have worked better as son Harman's debut venture instead of "Love Story 2050", which really is neither here nor there.

Yes, the movie moves across places and time, but unfortunately, it belongs nowhere, and goes nowhere. In fact, it just loses its way in a mess created by a bad script and worse story-telling.

It's neither a full blown romantic film nor a science fiction. Kindly put, "Love Story 2050" is a misdirected attempt, albeit an ambitious one, to launch Harman Baweja in a film that has been made with a simple intention - to stand apart from the rest.

It does stand apart, but not for its originality or technical brilliance, but the immense disappointment it leaves you with. What a waste of a Rs500 million budget!

No, the hype does not kill it. In fact, one steps into the first day's first show with no expectations, instead probably with a little sympathy for the film and its debutant hero as the giant Aamir Khan and his cutthroat marketing of "Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Na" had been threatening to crush Harman's dream, even before he could prove himself.

A handful of people in the cinema were the first ominous sign of things to come. As Karan (Harman) makes a stylised entry on the big screen, you wait for the next big things to happen. But what does is pretty regular stuff... Love at first sight, Karan subsequently wooing Sana (Priyanka Chopra), the couple singing some melodious songs, while the eye-pleasing locales of South Australia roll in the background.

To be fair, till this point, the film, though moving at a slower-than-desired pace, manages to keep you interested.

But just when you think the lonely Karan is alone no more, it's time to go into the future. The Shanghai-lookalike Mumbai of 2050 is where he lands along with scientist Uncle Ya (Boman Irani) and Sana's siblings. Our happy hero of the first half is now on a mission, which progresses in a painfully confused manner.

Instead of the much talked about technical wizardry bowling one over, what knocks our senses dead is a haphazard bunch of sequences that don't connect cohesively and challenge logic every step of the way.

By now you genuinely feel sorry for Harman and even have no patience or appreciation for the special effects that inconsistently appear on screen.  Some are amateurish, some impressive, but you simply don't care.

At almost 3 hours, this love story makes you weep for a happy ending, or just any ending.

Amidst all that's mediocre and bad, Harman makes his presence felt. For most of film he is at ease and dances like a dream, and except for a few scenes that require complex emoting, his acting passes muster. And yes, not just the face, even his voice and on screen mannerisms are quite like Hrithik Roshan's. So whether he likes it or not, comparisons will remain and it will take a lot of effort from him to come into his own.

Priyanka's performance fluctuates between likable and contrived, and despite the long length of her role, she doesn't really make a mark. Her stylist though does a good job of making her fit her two on screen personas.

The remaining cast has bit roles with nothing to do, and even the immensely talented Boman Irani fails to win you over.

The fault lies mainly with the script, screenplay and direction. Together, the three make you so weary that while you do notice that the music is pleasing and the sets beautifully crafted, you can't be bothered with applauding.  

‘I don't need luck because I have love', is Karan's favourite line in the film. Well, Harman may have love, but for "Love Story 2050" to work, he'll only need luck. And lots of it.

Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani, Archana Puran Singh, Dilip Tahil

Director: Harry Baweja

Music: Anu Malik