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Youngistaan Reviews

Despite its timely intentions and catchy soundtrack, Youngistaan is a skewered immature tale that caters to the lowest common denominator of hope.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Feb 6, 2019

The only bright spot is the late Farooq Sheikh, who brings his good-natured gravitas to this unintentional comedy. But for him, Youngistaan is brain-dead and largely insufferable.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | May 21, 2018

There's a lot to like in Youngistaan in spite of its cheesy cola-tagline inspired title.

Full Review | May 21, 2018

Afzal's Youngistaan at the core is an interesting idea, far-fetched, but refreshing.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 21, 2018

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Movie review: Youngistaan is an enjoyable experience

The production quality of youngistaan is great and that's one of the biggest aspects in making youngistaan watchable. bhatt's favourite jeet ganguly and some other music directors have given some melodious tracks that definately add value.  rating: .

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Youngistaan

Director: Sayed Ahmad Afzal

Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma

Where to watch

Youngistaan.

Directed by Syed Ahmed Afzal

Abhimanyu Kaul - a young, independent, Games Developer, living in Japan and the love of his life, Anwita Chauhan - a bubbly, passionate and full of life, summer intern. Their happy and content life faces the test of time, when blood ties and the pressure of being born into the first family of India tears a young Abhimanyu between his love for Anwita and a promise made to his dying father, the Prime Minister of India. Being a public figure, by reluctantly accepting to represent the governing party, much against his own wishes and at the cost of his private life, is a double-edged sword that Abhimanyu must walk on.

Boman Irani Farooq Shaikh Jacky Bhagnani Neha Sharma Kayoze Irani Prakash Belawadi Dipankar Dey Brijendra Kala Mita Vashisht

Director Director

Syed Ahmed Afzal

Producer Producer

Vashu Bhagnani

Writers Writers

Syed Ahmed Afzal Ramiz Ilham Khan Maitrey Bajpai

Choreography Choreography

Mansi Aggarwal

Composer Composer

Sneha Khanwalkar

MSM Motion Pictures Pooja Entertainment

Alternative Titles

Drama Romance

Releases by Date

28 mar 2014, releases by country.

• Theatrical L
• Theatrical U

133 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Kathy Gibson ★★½

Youngistaan shares much in common with the 1993 Hollywood film Dave. Both are about regular guys shoved into the political spotlight, only to realize that they are now in a position to positively impact the lives of ordinary citizens. Dave is a better movie, so watch that instead.

Full review here .

Review by Mannie ½

i’d like to thank jacki da for successfully making me lose interest in all politicians in a go. what bigotry couldn’t make possible you did ❤️🙏🏼

Review by Mayur Panchamia ★★½

Good concept but used it like a pawn.

Could do much better nevertheless it isn't a bad movie at all.

Legendary Farukh Sheikh adds his presence in this movie.

Baki Jackie Bhagnani is there so think and watch or may be don't think at all. 💁😜

Review by Baradwaj Rangan Unofficial

"These situations needed texture, quirk. Still, with elections around the corner, things could be a lot worse than this story about a Prime Minister who inaugurates a hockey tournament not with a boring speech but by scoring a goal. When the reality is so depressing, even okayish fantasy can be a balm."

Full Review

Review by schlabber42 ½

Alphabet Club #25: Y

Scavenger Hunt #46: something with MUSIC, FROM OVERSEAS. Progress: 16/31 letterboxd.com/caleb_yells/list/scavenger-hunt-forty-six-just-for-kicks-january-1/

Besides the facts that the plot was nonsensical, the protagonists had zero character and the editing was a catastrophe, what I missed most in this movie was passion. It felt as if someone just put together some scenes, played some music over them and then threw the result to the audience to chew on it. That's a shame, because the plot actually had enough potential to make a decent movie.

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Movie Review: Youngistaan

Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma and Farooque Sheikh Director: Syde Ahmad Afzal Wish it was so easy to become the Prime Minister of India from a pub-hopping youngster. Wish it was so easy to even romance your girlfriend in between official duties and sing songs against the backdrop of the Tajmahal even as the security paid vigil. Wish it was so easy to scuttle opposition – within the party and outside it. Wish it was so easy to enjoy a sweeping victory at the polls just by youthful rhetoric and platitudes… Well, debutant director Syed Ahmad Afzal ends up doing just that in Vashu Bhagnani’s Youngistaan. Abhminayu Kaul (Jackky Bhagnani), a games developer living in Japan, gives up his well-paying job and freedom to don the Prime Minister’s cap just to honour the promise he gave to his terminally ill father (Boman Irani plays the dying PM). Then on the takeover of the nation is as smooth for him as taking over a well-established family business.  The only distraction comes in the form of his relentlessly demanding girlfriend Anvita (Neha Sharma), who’d rather romance on the streets than become a princess in a castle. The film seems topical and could have cut across audiences given the current election scenario but lacks the gravitas of a political drama, which particularly associates itself with the highest seat of power. While there are a million problems that a country faces, the acting PM’s problem in the film is only dealing with an immature girlfriend who yearns to have matka kulfi at 4 am! And while she loves him enough to accompany him from Japan and even bear his child, for some reason, she’s reluctant to marry him, thereby inviting ire of a conservative public. Performance wise Jackky Bhagnani is earnest though he lacks the élan that is intrinsic to a character of such power. Neha Sharma is confident and pretty and has the potential to etch her way in showbiz. But the most endearing part of the film is the late Farooque Sheikh (plays the PM’s assistant Akbar). Natural, unassuming and flawless, he’s gone beyond his penned character. Interestingly, the beginning of the film pays a tribute to the late actor by showing clippings of him on the set where he even happens to tell Jackky, “Mera last day tumhare last day se pehle hoga!”  The film’s highlight is the Sufi qawwali Daata di diwaani composed by Shiraz Uppal, composed by Shakeel Sohail and sung by Shiraz Uppal and Rafaqat Ali Khan. The number is the soulful oasis in the simplistic film.

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Youngistaan

Release date: 28 march, 2014, youngistaan movie.

'Youngistaan', essentially a love story set in the backdrop of Indian politics, is the story of Abhimanyu Kaul - a young, independent, Games Developer, living in Japan with the love of his life, Anwita Chauhan - a bubbly, passionate and full of life, summer intern.

Their happy and content life faces ...  the test of time, when blood ties and the pressure of being born into the first family of India tears a young Abhimanyu between his love for Anwita and a promise made to his dying father, the Prime Minister of India.

Being a public figure, by reluctantly accepting to represent the governing party, much against his own wishes and at the cost of his private life, is a double-edged sword that Abhimanyu must walk on. Much like the crests and troughs of any political survey, the film follows the highs and lows of Abhimanyu's life - From a young boy, living an ordinary life in Japan, to the designate Prime Minister of the biggest democracy in the world. The film travels with Abhimanyu, as he becomes the Prime Minister of India and struggles to balance his personal relationship with Anwita on one hand and the political resistance against him from within his party, on the other.

Thought of as an amateur and incapable of handling the issues at large by one and all, (except the ever faithful Akbar Patel, Secretary to the P.M), the film closes as a victorious Abhimanyu changes the course of events and turns the tide his way, through his hard work, honestly, and above all, a political legacy - a sharp, leading mind that not everyone inherits!

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Youngistaan is part of the Oscars race

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Movie review: Youngistaan is as much a political drama as a romantic comedy

You have to hand it to this film for making an effort to be 'headline-ish' without toppling over with the temperament of topicality. this is a genre that bollywood never really explored so far. unlike prakash jha's raajneeti, youngistaan doesn't take itself too seriously..

Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, late Farooque Sheikh Director: Syed Ahmed Afzal; Rating: **** You have to hand it to this film for making an effort to be 'headline-ish' without toppling over with the temperament of topicality. This is a genre never really cracked in Hindi cinema. A political drama about a young foreign-educated NRI who is forced to take over his country's reigns after his father's sudden death. Unlike Prakash Jha's Raajneeti, Youngistaan doesn't take itself too seriously. There is no attempt here to mythicize or demonize the politicians. Think Rajiv Gandhi. Jackky Bhagnani plays an amalgamation of many political dreams. Never mind if some of them turn into nightmares in real life (think Arvind Kejriwal). Cinema is about hope and redemption. In a nation hurling towards damnation, the thought of some political wisdom, clarity and far-sightedness in this season of the election, is eminently welcomed. Young Bhagnani brings a temperance and sensitivity to his character. This is a guy who can think straight, even when he isn't thinking straight.

Youngistaan is a smartly-written political parable about a young smart foreign-bred Indian who has the audacity to sing "Japan Love In Tokyo" on a drunken night in Tokyo, and who is thrust the thankless job of India's prime ministership. Wisely, the narrative never takes itself so seriously as to careen over under the weight of its conscientiousness.

There is a sense of mischief underlining the very powerful message about the young shouldering the governance of the country without resorting to the stereotypical morality and dress code of neta-giri in Hindustan.

Jackky's Abhimanyu Kaul is the need of the hour. He is young, enterprising and modern in thought and ready to take on the political humbug headlong. He is also a considerate, generous boyfriend trying to make his somewhat-overbearing sometime-annoying life-mate understand the complexities of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him.

Youngistaan is as much a political drama as a romantic comedy about a young prime minister and his fun-loving outgoing girlfriend who suddenly finds herself under house curfew just because her lover has a rather important job to perform.

Writer-director Syed Ahmad Afzal has told a story that seems destined to be put on screen. The politics of our disembodied democracy is sexily sketched. In this season of the Lok Sabha election, Youngistaan raises pertinent questions on the quality of leadership in our country. While it gets its political fundas right, the plot also accommodates the central romantic conflict into its structure.

Every character, big or small, is effectively cast. Jackky as the prime ministerial candidate, conveys a whole lot of sincerity in his performance. His scenes with his dead father (Boman Irani) are emotionally resplendent. They play off well against the stark, sometime funny and outrageous reality of Indian politics.

Neha Sharma as his untameable girlfriend plays her character with intelligence and grace. This girl deserves more than what Hindi cinema has so far offered her. But it is the as Bhagnani's quietly efficient personal assistant who brings a twinkle-eyed wisdom to the table.

The film tells us - it's okay to have dynastic rule as long as the job gets done. It also tells us that there's no need to get hysterical if our prime minister is in a live-in relationship. It may not be cool for a prime minister to get his girlfriend pregnant at a time when he has a responsibility towards the nation, but if it happens, there's no need to get righteous and holier-than-thou.

On the minus side, the film tends lose steam whenever Jackky's character is not in the company of his girlfriend or personal assistant. This is a measure of how well the characters are written and played. The material is judiciously edited. The camerawork is delightfully plush. As though to remind us that politics need not be a drab colourless vocation. It can be a bastion for the young. And it can be a great deal of fun!

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Movie Review: Youngistaan

Cast : Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, Farooq Shaikh, Boman Irani Direction : Syed Ahmed Afzal Story : Loverboy Abhimanyu is suddenly uprooted from his easygoing existence and compelled to take over his father's powerful seat as India's youngest PM. Review : Wake up to the new face of modern India. Governed by a 28-year Prime Minister, well-bred, free-thinking and fashionably good-looking in denims and designer wear. And a live-in hottie girlfriend as the First Lady. Howzaat? Read on. Abhimanyu Kaul's (Jackky) funky life of gaming, wild partying and romancing lady-love, Anwita (Neha), while living-in with her in Tokyo, comes to a shocking halt. His father (Boman), the powerful PM of India suddenly passes away, entrusting Abhi with the coveted seat to serve the nation. He can no longer live like an aam aadmi. Overnight, his life is stripped off all normalcy and privacy. Tailor-made sherwanis, kurtas make way into his wardrobe, and a pack of men-in-black (read commandos) make way into his bedroom. 'Parties' have a whole new meaning and night-life means nashta with nefarious netas. Dinner dates with his gal is definitely more than a twosome, and his new circle boasts of political giants (so what if his buddies disappear from his hacked Facebook account! Sigh!). His only trust-worthy man is Akbar uncle (Shaikh), the PA to the PM. His politically inappropriate personal life comes under scanner of the junta and media, but the couple refuses to budge from their love-nest to appease the politicos. Abhi is a master in the game of love, but will this Romeo be able to win the game of rajneeti too? Afzal's ' Youngistaan ' at the core is an interesting idea, far-fetched, but refreshing. The love-story develops tenderly, but the political backdrop and ensuing drama is not crafted with clarity. The story suffers from uninspiring dialogues, with a stretched climax. It's a well-intentioned drama which vibes with the current political scenario and upcoming elections ("mujhe vote dijeye ya na dijeye, lekin vote zaroor dijeya. Ek aapka haq hai." Got it?) Jackky shows sincerity and confidence, with a steady act in a tough role. Neha plays the pretty, exuberant girl-friend with flair. And finally, the superlative - Farooq Shaikh, enacting the last screen role of his life. As always, using his warmth and acting prowess to deliver a great performance (in spite of a poorly sketched role). The young generation will truly miss this performer par excellence. With a heavy heart...adaab, Farooksaab! 'Youngistaan' isn't the perfect concoction of love and politics, but worth one 'shot'! Author: Madhureeta Mukherjee

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Youngistaan

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do ( ? )

I hope young India's vision is not as shallow, superficial or short-sighted.

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Some films just bother you at a conceptual level. Youngistaan claims to represent the youth and I shudder at the thought of the youth - you and I - being so shallow and superficial in our approach to problems at the national level.

What do I want from my representative in the government? Only my lookout? Only whether my point of view has been represented? I don't think so. I want what is generally good for the society as a whole. But, Youngistaan has created a Prime Minister who thinks his way is the way to go.

I consider myself pretty liberal so, I don't really care about my Prime Minister's girlfriend problems or daddy issues. Everyone has them, he is human, he is allowed to have them too. Am I okay with him having a live-in relationship? Now, my liberalism is being put to test. I am okay with friends, but a role model. Hey, wait! In a film about the future of the country, why am I even asking this question?

Fine, Youngistaan doesn't talk about just this issue. From the huge ocean of politics the two and a quarter topics they pick are change in calculation of rate of interest on loans for a particular range of people, a scam of some sort, and a quarter of a nod at farmer suicides.

The accountant in me couldn't resist laughing at the implications of the interest rate change that our PM Abhimanyu Kaul ( Jackky Bhagnani ). The build up of the scam led to something so standard (I know, it's sad that there is something like a standard scam) that you wonder what the big issue was. The look of surprise when it is mentioned to our PM that agriculture is our main sector, is actually insulting. His superficial solution, makes you feel worse.

Then you consider for a moment if Youngistaan is a story of a 28 year old boy who is emotionally blackmailed into becoming the prime minister of the country. But it doesn't work that way either. It loses that battle at its name itself, right? It wants to represent the youth. It is not an individual's story yet it spends too much time on the love life of that individual while trying to deal with national crises via some jingoism, of course.

A storyline with such a premise would be a difficult sell even with the best actors at your disposal. Jackky Bhagnani does come across as sincere. But there is so little time spent on writing a character that is so important, that like I said, I doubt any other actor could've helped. Same goes for Neha Sharma who's supposedly the supportive girlfriend. Again, such a wonderful chance of writing a layered character wasted. A similar waste of talent is Farouque Shaikh . May his soul rest in peace.

Sure, there is an attempt at trying something new. It feel flat on its face, but at least they tried. Oh well.

- meeta, a part of the audience

24 reviewers ( ? ) - 2 yays 11 so-so 11 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...rides high on vision... full review

Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, NDTV : ...The material is judiciously edited. The camerawork is delightfully plush.... full review

So-So, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...an interesting premise, a mature act by Jackky Bhagnani and importantly, the message it conveys is just right. ... full review

So-So, by Bhagyashri Pawar, Bollywood Life : ...If you watch it with a practical mind, everything about the film is far too exaggerated. ... full review

So-So, by Kusumita Das, Deccan Chronicle : ...A pleasant surprise... full review

So-So, by Rony D'Costa, Desi Martini : ...A decent film, only if you can digest the fact that Jacky Bhagnani can be the PM of India in reel just like Rahul Gandhi can be in reel. ... full review

So-So, by Sarita A Tanwar, DNA : ...Watch it for the endearing Jackky Bhagnani and the inimitable Farouque Sheikh.... full review

So-So, Indicine : ...Some plot points seem to be a jolt from the blue... full review

So-So, by Shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...While the film has a very interesting premise, it is totally diluted by lazy scriptwriting and sketchy direction ... full review

So-So, Movie Talkies : ...An original tale... full review

So-So, by Moumita Bhattacharjee, Star Blockbuster : ...t may be a far-fetched idea but it is a refreshing take on the political humdrum of our nation.... full review

So-So, by Sudhish Kamath, The Hindu : ...It can be debated if this is a film that warranted songs and choreography but the fact that it showed THIS much restraint itself is reason to give it a shot. ... full review

So-So, by Madhureeta Mukherjee, Times of India : ...isn't the perfect concoction of love and politics, but worth one 'shot'... full review

Thumbs down, by Anna Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...espite all this going for it, Youngistaan still ends up feeling flat and dull for three reasons: inconsistent writing, inconsistent direction and a weak lead actor. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ... whatever the truth behind its production might be, the basic point is that the film actually suffers a lot due to the completely confused vision of its director... full review

Thumbs down, by Deepa Deosthalee, Film Impressions : ...A MIDDLING EFFORT... full review

Thumbs down, by Farhana Farook, Filmfare : ...Politically incorrect... full review

Thumbs down, by Anupama Chopra, Hindustan Times : ...brain-dead and insufferable... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...The film is unnecessarily stretched out... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...The film, despite its efforts, becomes muddled, and dull... full review

Thumbs down, by Mohar Basu, koimoi : ...Jackky Bhagnani is apt in his role. Though very earnest, the actor doesn’t stretch beyond the contours of what is demanded of him.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rahul Desai, Mumbai Mirror : ...Youngistaan is a skewered immature tale that caters to the lowest common denominator of hope. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Mansha Rastogi, Now Running.com : ...Youngistaan promises to be a youth-centric, pro-change film but its promises are as shallow and superficial as the ones made by many of our real life politicians. Waste of a great opportunity ... full review

Thumbs down, by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Reuters : ...never seems to be able to decide whether it is a romance or a political thriller... full review

63 tweeters ( ? ) - 49 yays 2 so-so 12 nays

umerbagwan555 : #Youngistaan awesome movie @jackkybhagnani #must watch

toyincash : Youngistaan Movie Review : 4 out of 5 Stars: Film: “Youngistaan”; Ca st: Jackky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, late Fa... http://news.worldsnap.com/entertainment/movie-review/youngistaan-movie-review-4-out-of-5-stars-172034.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

SudhishKamath : Youngistaan wasn't bad at all! And so good to see Farooque Shaikh on screen. He lends credibility to the most outrageous of situations.

strugglerking : #Youngistaan is a great film! Aspiring actors too, hats off to you all @jackkybhagnani @Officialneha @bomanirani @kayoze ..

shivi_ritz : #youngistaan a must watch. Slow, yet original and meaningful piece of work. @jackkybhagnani great! :D

santoshkumar494 : #youngistaan must watch movie for everyone... hats off #jackey for such a mature performance...

SantanuRoychow7 : The movie ""YOUNGISTAAN"" is a AWSOM movie!

rupam_sg : #Youngistaan 5star bcoz its a full entertainment flim @Jackkybhagnani @Officialneha #ZoomReview

Rims_Rajput : Awsm movie.. #Youngistaan ..Great job @Officialneha and @jackkybhagnani !! :-) :-) !!

RameshsutharR : 1st day 1st show of youngistaan <3....awesome movie....u look dame beautiful @Officialneha . Love you a lot....

proudviratian : #Youngistaan.. wat a film.. an outstndng film.. n @jackkybhagnani & @Officialneha were rockng. neha luv ur smile. ur eyes.. uff

Priyanka_verma2 : watched #Youngistaan a superlike movie.cute chemistry b/w @jackkybhagnani n @Officialneha .n superb acting by @jackkybhagnani enjoyed a lot.

parekh_mrugesh : #Youngistaan what a great movie!! @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani great acting! Super super hit movie! :)

panditrarobby : youngistaan is a very good film.

padamsandhu : It was a Fridaystaan day...you were so natural,believable in character @jackkybhagnani #Youngistaan loved idea of mobile voting @afzalistan

obsessive_soul : You can't expect a better movie than #Youngistaan in this election scenario. It's a treat to watch. Kudos to @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani

NOTCHmag : Prime Minister in a live-in relationship? @YoYoungistaan is a cool, modern tale of politics...http://www.notchmag.com/bollywood-reviews/youngistaan-movie-review

Mur_Gohil : wt a movie...wt a movie.....brilliant @jackkybhagnani n adore you...respect you....lotsa love you swthrt.... @officialneha hit #youngistaan

mohamm_s : jst watch #Youngistaan Awesome Movie . A must watch @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani #Youngistaan

MakhijaAvish : Supeeer moviee go youngistaan @jackkybhagnani @officialneha

madhukarpandey : Youngistaan could've been much better, but for whatever it still is, it deserves some applaud. It engages & keeps... https://www.facebook.com/reachmadhukarpandey/posts/10202842339393553

ItsAaravHere : loved #Youngistaan so much. such a incredible movie. loved @OfficialNeha so much. #BestOf2014

IndiaOpines : Youngistaan – A Worthy Undertaking http://indiaopines.com/?p=14886

IndiaBroadcast : Movie review: Youngistaan is a refreshing idea http://www.niticentral.com/2014/03/28/movie-review-youngistaan-is-a-refreshing-idea-205000.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

imVsingh : #Youngistaan meri jaan :)) Movie Acchi Hain Mere Dost @jackkybhagnani movie acchi Hai..

iDannyDenzongpa : #Youngistaan is a great film! Aspiring actors too, hats off to you all @jackkybhagnani @Officialneha @bomanirani @kayoze .. God bless!

iamchiragyadav : Youngistaan is brilliant See it for change! See it for belief! See it for love See it to have fun See it for our very own neha @Officialneha

iamCalmDev : A treat to watch #Youngistaan . #FarouqueSheikh sahab's last movie. I would love to watch @jackkybhagnani in many more films.

iam_bajwa09 : #Youngistaan is smart n very well written film . Mature performances by @jackkybhagnani n @Officialneha adds more power to it. Worth watch

i_sanghamitra1 : after watchin #faltu i expected something really inspirin from @jackkybhagnani & wit #Youngistaan he fulfilled al my expectations #MustWatch

hiindia : Youngistaan, a must watch fim http://hiindialive.com/?p=55479&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

ektajesswani : #Youngistaan Loved it! Interesting & gripping. Doesn't leave u for a second! @jackkybhagnani 's sincerity thru d performance bowls u over!

drrashmishetty : #Youngistaan a must watch. Story , acting and all of it . Some of the reforms - pls Indian govt take notice @jackkybhagnani #Bollywood

dj_rackieb : #Youngistaan .. A good movie to watch.. loved it.. Great All round performance .. @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani u both made it more worth..

divyamgoyal18 : One actually can't rate movie like #Youngistaan. U Watch, Praise and Tweet. Awesome work done by @jackkybhagnani and my fav @Officialneha

Darshan_Karkera : a must watch movie #Youngistaan by @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani .awsome movie

bollywoodmixer : Mixer Review:#Youngistaan ★★★½ A Must watch! Read on:http://bollywoodmixer.com/youngistaan-2/ @jackkybhagnani @bomanirani @Officialneha http://twitter.com/bollywoodmixer/status/449558761296769024/photo/1

Bijz94 : Love Youngistaan n @jackkybhagnani 's look in the film is to die for. Too cute

Bhk007 : Youngistaan is a must Watch for everyone

bhanwarsaaa : This time for nation please go and watch #Youngistaan #Election2014 @Officialneha

aveesh208 : #Youngistaan super flick!!!! @Officialneha you rocked it!!! Kudos!!!

ArvindFakerywal : Watched Youngistaan..!! A very pleasant watch.. seriously.. @Officialneha you look superbly stunning

arihant_sethi : A very inspiring movie #youngistaan is.. @Officialneha & @jackkybhagnani ve look very cute as couples.. #Jackky has played a good leader.

aishasharma25 : #Youngistaan should be your weekend watch ..

adeemd : Guys go to the nearest theatre & watch #Youngistaan . @jackkybhagnani & @Officialneha steal the show.Go &watch it quickly.

Aabhiishekk : watched youngistaan# amazing movie @ dis political tym # amazing acts # greatjob @Officialneha @jackkybhagnani # 3 cheers

aabhi08 : Watched #Youngistaan! Brilliant performances by @jackkybhagnani and @officialneha!!! To describe it in 1 word, its 'WOW'! :)

A86Amna : #Youngistaan a must watch superb acting by @jackkybhagnani n @Officialneha looks adorable http://twitter.com/A86Amna/status/449773644353261568/photo/1

_nirmalya : #Youngistaan attempts to break the stereotype politics. Good show by @jackkybhagnani & @Officialneha was a treat to watch. #win

G_Placement : Youngistaan Movie Reviews : 3 Out of 5 Stars http://www.getanews.com/youngistaan-movie-reviews-3-out-of-5-stars

bhawanasomaaya : #Youngistaan ko #BigEntertainmentRatings milte hain 3 stars jis me se 1 star #FarooqueShaikh ke liye. #Diskiyaaon ko BER milta hai 1 star

widestuff : 'Youngistaan' review: The film is unnecessarily stretched out http://widestuff.sharedby.co/links/LvE2Oq

TVMoviesIN : Film review: Youngistaan: A checklist of current issues are touched upon very superficially - taxation bills, ... http://t.co/XcoiKpNeom

TokyoNews5 : Youngistaan review: I wouldn't vote for It #Tokyo #Topix http://www.topix.com/jp/tokyo/2014/03/youngistaan-review-i-wouldnt-vote-for-it?fromrss=1

SourojyotiPaul : The first day Las show of youngistaan was quite embarrassing... The script wasn't strong enough

SardaarKhan : :) RT @MehraAmod: This week’s releases : #Youngistaan – DUMB, #O Teri – DUMMER & #Dishkiyaoon – DUMMEST !!!

RjDhvanit : Mirchi Amdavadi Bioscope - #Youngistaan - 2 mirchi | #OTeri - 0 mirchi | #Dishkiyaaoon - 1 mirchi!... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjsEZGX6mkY&feature=youtu.be

ragingsuccess : #Youngistaan BAKWAAS MOVIE. KOI #RAHUL KA ROLE KAISE ACCEPT BHI KAR SAKTA HAI??? #MODI4PM PE MOVIE BANAO!! full to hit hai...

iambvg : Youngistaan is what happens when you complete your script in a day #TrueStory

GhantaaEngineer : Go watch #Youngistaan, that will give the feeling "Sala, yeh PM bn sakta hai to main kyu nahi". Don't miss.

gauravkrai : my review of #YOUNGISTAAN …where promises are meant to be left unfulfilled! ... http://kyaraihai.blogspot.com/2014/03/youngistaan-where-promises-are-meant-to.html?spref=tw

chickoo_chirag : #Youngistaan Farooque Shaikh sahab's endearing act is the only silver lining in this dumb political satire.

amit12354 : #Youngistaan had a terrific concept in mind but lacks a kickass screenplay which is the basic ingredient in these kind f films (2/5) #Review

No readers have rated this movie yet.

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review .

Parental Guidance:

• Violence : None
• Language : Clean
• Nudity & Sexual content : None, but pre-marital sex and pregnancy is one of the main issues focused on.
• Concept : When a youngster picks up the reins of the country.
• General Look and Feel : Pretty run-of-the-mill. Nothing that shouts at you, which is a good thing. Serious atmosphere too, though there are feeble attempts at making the atmosphere light.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Youngistaan - cast, crew, links.

Youngistaan - Trailer

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Comments (10)

Click here for new comment.

So is he hyperverbal, spewing out talking points and Gilbert&Sullivan - er, Classic Bollywood references at a mile a minute, Meetu?

Are the Old Guard a bunch of reactionary meanypants who not-so-secretly plot to dethrone him, and replace him with their puppet?

And the media consists of a bunch of belligerent blowhards?

Is the writer's name "Aaron Sorkin", by any chance?

Have to say, this sounds like a Can't Wait to Miss for Us Americans, Meetu.

::Am I okay with him having a live-in relationship? Now, my liberalism is being put to test. I am okay with friends, but a role model.::

Honestly, Meetu - I don't see "living together" as something I'd judge a leader "role model"-iness on. Stealing from the public till? Taking kickbacks from Big Corrupt Corporate Types? Instituting a police state or supporting torture and police brutality? Being a hypocrite about extramarital/premarital sex, pornography, gay rights or recreational drug use - or whatever similar social issues are being fought in India? That is what I consider a "bad role model".

Maybe it's because Tammy and I lived together for over three years before we got married (and because I live in the West as well), but if a young politician who's not running on a "public morality" platform lives with his girlfriend I'm not going to be too bothered by it.

@TimELiebe No Bollywood references, thankfully! Old guard try to make him the puppet and fall flat too quickly and easily :P. More "House of Cards" than "West Wing", but that is giving it a huge compliment. Its neither that dark, intense or grim.

Oh and I absolutely love Aaron Sorkin's writing. :D

Yeah, I just said, I'm not sure. If he's doing all the right things for the community at large, right, I don't really care how murky his personal life is.

US or UK HOUSE OF CARDS, Meetu? UK is a brilliant bit of corrosive satire - US is a bit heavy-handed for this American. I would love to see an Indian version of the UK HoC….

::Imagines Amitabh Bachchan as the charmingly corrupt politician, smiles happily….::

It sounds kind of like, well, it might be a bit Inside Baseball to a non- desi audience - or is it accessible enough that a couple Americans might watch it and get what they're talking about?

US one. Is it heavy handed? I shudder at the thought of Indian TV, sorry.

@Meetu - I think it is compared to the UK version, but not everybody agrees with me. It's gotten a lot of very positive reviews, but I find the Southern Fried performances of Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright too put-on, and the villainy so obvious I'm amazed he's gotten as far as he has.

I haven't seen Indian television - but if it's anything like typical American television (not those brilliant shows you hear about online, but your typical shows like CASTLE, THE BLACKLIST or NCIS), I don't blame you for shuddering!

PS: Watch the UK version of HOUSE OF CARDS if you can get it - the late Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart is Shakespearean in his charismatic villainy. :)

Speaking of Shakespeare - our friend Bruce Coville heard about an Indian version of MACBETH, MAQBOOL, starring Irfan Khan. We bought the DVD and are going to give it a try Sunday night - since we've really liked the mix of India and Shakespeare we've seen so far, LIKE OMKARA and the Shakespeare-feeling EKLAVYA, THE ROYAL GUARD.

@TimELiebe oh Maqbook is excellent! Hope you all enjoy it.

::@TimELiebe oh Maqbook is excellent! Hope you all enjoy it.::

We watched it two weeks ago, Meetu. A bit sluggish in spots (I nodded a few times, despite the shortish running time - we've become so used to Indian film lengths that if a film's shorter than two hours we're immediately suspicious! :D ), but Irrfan Khan and Tabu are great at the Indian versions of Lord and Lady MacBeth, and I felt the movie did a better job of clarifying their relationship than most versions of MACBETH I've seen. And Om Puri and Naseerruddin Shah as Corrupt Cops/Soothsayers were a welcome twist-up on The Three Weird Sisters. And even though IMDB says Gyanchand Rikki (ACP Mughal) was only in this film as an actor, I'd swear I've seen him a number of times, usually playing humorless cops or gangsters....

I'm a bit grumpy that they went with "Organized Crime As Modern Metaphor For Shakespearean Nobility" trope (how many times have I seen that in both our countries?), rather than making them contemporary Indian royalty akin to in EKLAVYA: THE ROYAL GUARD. But mostly - we liked it a lot. Even Tammy, who's normally bored by Shakespeare, enjoyed it. :)

@TimELiebe Points well made! I'm glad you all enjoyed it :D

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Youngistaan Movie Review

Starring : Jacky Bhagnani, Neha Sharma, Farooq Sheikh

Directed by : Syed Ahmed Afzal

Music :  Jeet Ganguly, Shiraz Uppal, sneha Khanwalkar, Shree D and Ishq Bector

At the time when the country is all set to elect its new government, watching a movie that brings clarity and wisdom in thoughts is certainly a wise thing to do! Debutant director Syed Ahmed Afzal’s Youngistaan , sermonizes the novel concept of Youngistaan, a nation that believes in the openness of ideas. As a blend of political drama and romance, the movie is certainly a welcome change in the typical political genre of bollywood.

Plot : After the demise of the Prime Minister of the India, his young foreign educated son is forced to take over his father’s responsibilities. Astounded by the sudden gush of serious responsibilities, he slowly begins to shuffle between his personal and professional while keeping in mind the well-being of the each of them. But whether the youngness in his ideas brings in the due change or not, is what forms the crux of the story!

Performances : After a long trail of unsuccessful projects, Jacky Bhagnani has finally chanced upon the correct venture. Not only does he look convincing as a Prime Minister, but is also able to bring in the right sincerity in his role.  There is a mystical charm in his demeanor that makes you adore him totally.

Neha Sharma looks fresh and serene but tries hard to blend in her character.

It is Farooq Sheikh that brings in the sensibility and firmness in the story. He was truly one of the most sincere actors of bollywood.

Music :  The soundtrack of Youngistaan is a short one with just four songs in its kitty. Overall, the album fare averagely in its worth but the song “Suno na sangyamarmar” is definitely the catch of the movie. It is one song that sticks to your soul even after listening to it once.

What’s Good : The film’s take on the political drama of the country is definitely commendable. The in-depth message that the film tries to market comes out really well. The sincerity in terms of acting as shown by the actors is truly convincing. The songs are good and hummables. The movie has a lightness that keeps you interested. The romantic and the political aspects have been taken care of very nicely.

What’s Bad : Certain gestures about the movie seem unrealistic if thought about practically.

Youngistaan , as a political drama, does not demonize the politicians by criticizing them. Instead, it propagates the change that the youngness and openness in ideas can bring to a nation. It simply brings forward a new take on the concept of politics and the governance of the country. Jacky Bhagnani puts serious efforts in realizing his character and this sincerity wins hearts for him. If you are a fan of Farooq Sheikh, watching the movie is a must as it is unfortunately the last piece of his work. Youngistaan is definitely a light-watch that keeps you entertained throughout the movie.

Verdict : Its time to witness change!

Rating : ***

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Youngistaan Review

Youngistan     Rating:  2.2/5  From All the  reviews on the web Showing 11 Reviews

Youngistan Hindi Movie Reviews

Ratings :2/5  Review By:   Rajeev Masand   Site:CNN IBN

Youngistaan starts off promisingly as a fish-out-of-water comedy about a carefree, 28-year-old who is thrown into the messy world of politics when, after the death of his father, hes roped in to replace him as Prime Minister. By the end, Youngistaan spirals into an abyss of predictable plotting, as Abhimanyu learns the tricks of how to succeed in politics. Its all unnecessarily stretched out, and co-writer/director Syed Ahmad Afzal brings nothing by way of original treatment or even radical resolution.Im going with two out of five. There was potential here, but its wasted.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :3/5  Review By:   Taran Adarsh   Site:Bollywood Hungama

YOUNGISTAAN looks at scheming politicians, driven by a greed for power and who try to pull the rug from under the feet. The storyteller also borrows episodes from real life — some characters bear a striking resemblance to real-life politicians too — making the spectator relate to the proceedings. The ambience is pitch-perfect, the feel is just right, the upheavals in the life of the young politician are illustrated wonderfully at times. On the whole, YOUNGISTAAN has an interesting premise, a mature act by Jackky Bhagnani and importantly, the message it conveys is just right. The writing could’ve been sharper, but having said that, this movie is worthy of a watch.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :–  Review By:   Komal Nahata   Site:Zee ETC Bollywood Business

The first half is boring and slow but the pace definitely picks up after interval. However, since the drama continues to look implausible and forced even in the second half, the impact is minimal. The pre-climax and climax are interesting but the audience, by then, is so bored that their impact is diluted a great deal. On the whole, Youngistaan does not have the soul-stirring quality so necessary in a film of this kind. Although the last couple of reels are fairly nice, the implausibility of the drama makes it rather unpalatable for the audience. It will, therefore, fail to make its mark.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :1/5  Review By:   Anupama Chopra   Site:Star World (Hindustan Times)

Every other year or so, Vashu produces a film in which Jackky stars. These vanity projects have been uniformly mediocre but their fifth film together, Youngistaan, sets a new standard of ridiculous. The premise had the potential for drama and humor but Youngistaan is just an incoherent mess designed to make us fall in love with Jackky, who is in almost every frame. Otherwise Youngistaan is brain-dead and largely insufferable. Im going with one star.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :2/5  Review By:   Shubhra Gupta   Site:Indian Express

All of these little threads and a few other intrigues make Youngistaan an interesting watch, but only up to a point. After a while, the pace slackens, and the focus gets diluted. But instead of building on it, and opening meaningful dialogue on thorny issues (are live-in relationships bad things; how the personal becomes public, and so on), it all becomes improbable and a tad costume-drama amateurish.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :3/5  Review By:   Madhureeta Mukherjee   Site:Times Of India (TOI)

‘Youngistaan’ at the core is an interesting idea, far-fetched, but refreshing. The love-story develops tenderly, but the political backdrop and ensuing drama is not crafted with clarity. The story suffers from uninspiring dialogues, with a stretched climax. It’s a well-intentioned drama which vibes with the current political scenario and upcoming elections.The young generation will truly miss this performer par excellence. With a heavy heart…adaab, Farooksaab! Farooq Shaikh, enacting the last screen role of his life. As always, using his warmth and acting prowess to deliver a great performance ‘Youngistaan’ isn’t the perfect concoction of love and politics, but worth one ‘shot’!

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :1/5  Review By:   Paloma Sharma   Site:Rediff

Youngistaan neither says something new nor does it reinforce time-tested wisdom in a way that you actually want to pay attention to it. Youngistaan was supposed to be a political drama but ended up being a romance for most of the two hours and 14 minutes. It focuses more on the personal life of the Prime Minister instead of his professional one. All in all, Youngistaan makes claims like Modi, implements policies like Rahul and has a persistent cough like Kejriwal, and I certainly wouldnt vote for it.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :2/5  Review By:   Manjari Saxena   Site: Gulfnews

A few scenes do induce some laughter. Its commendable of director Afzal to have chosen such a bold topic for his debut and manage to extract decent performances from his lead actors, even though they have a long way to go before they are called €œgood actors€. Also, it was endearing to see a tribute clip to Shaikh on the sets of the film. Youngistaan is a utopian story, at least in todays context. But if you arent really busy this weekend, you can consider heading to this Utopia.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :2.5/5  Review By:   Shubha Shetty Saha   Site: Mid Day

To have politics as the backdrop of your script and make the film interesting is not an easy job. This script must have looked great on paper and it had huge potential too. But its the shallow treatment that seems to have killed the spirit of the script. Watch it once if politics turns you on, and with election fever in the air, this seems like just the right time too.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :3.5/5  Review By:   Rohit Khilnani   Site: India Today

Youngistaan is a love story with Indian politics as the backdrop. It’s a light hearted film that’s not to be taken too seriously and that’s the only way one can enjoy this. The production quality of Youngistaan is great and that’s one of the biggest aspects in making Youngistaan watchable. The target audience of Youngistaan is the youth and for them this will be an enjoyable ride.

Visit  Site  for more Ratings :2/5  Review By:   Mohar Basu   Site: Koimoi

After surviving two disastrous movies this week, Youngistaan was a much settling respite. With a solid script on paper though trivial direction and sloppy execution, the film manages to remain engaging. For the potential the movie had and the passable entertainment it provides, the film is worth the value of the ticket price. If you have time, it wouldnt be a bad decision to watch it.

Visit  Site  for more Also Try: Youngistan Box Office O Teri Review Dishkiyaoon Review Ragini MMS 2 Review Queen Review Bollywood Box Office India 

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Marvel’s ‘deadpool & wolverine’: what the critics are saying.

Shawn Levy's R-rated film, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, hits theaters July 26.

By Abid Rahman

Abid Rahman

International Editor, Digital

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Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters July 26, but the review embargo for the film broke on Tuesday, and the early reaction from critics has been largely positive.

The third Deadpool movie, and first to be included in the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as the titular characters and is directed by Shawn Levy. The cast also includes The Crown ‘s Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova and Succession ‘s Matthew Macfadyen as TVA (Time Variance Authority) agent Mr. Paradox.

Related Stories

Box office: 'deadpool & wolverine' reaps record $38.5m in previews, best ever for an r-rated film, and more, 'deadpool & wolverine' review: ryan reynolds and hugh jackman rely on smirks and sentiment in overstuffed team-up.

Below are key excerpts from some of the most prominent early reviews.

In a m i x e d review for The Hollywood Reporter , David Rooney writes that dedicated Deadpool fans will love the in-jokes, which are cranked up for the third installment. “As bountiful as the action scenes are here, the jokes are the sturdiest part of Deadpool & Wolverine ,” Rooney writes, adding, “That’s because the plot is a lumpy stew of familiar elements, given minimal narrative clarity despite the reams of expository technobabble spouted by Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Paradox.”

“This is not an unmotivated crossover event,” writes Alissa Wilkinson, in her largely positive review for The New York Times. Wilkinson feels the endless jokes and goofiness works as Deadpool 3 is “self-reflective” of the corporate nature of comic book movies nowadays, but that approach has limits. “Now that this is an M.C.U. film, there are mandates. The stakes have to be absurdly high, having to do with the destruction or salvation of whole universes. More important, there must be corporate synergy,” Wilkinson writes.

Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri confesses he laughed during Deadpool 3 , if somewhat begrudgingly. “ Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t a particularly good movie — I’m not even sure it is a movie — but it’s so determined to beat you down with its incessant irreverence that you might find yourself submitting to it,” writes a seemingly exhausted Ebiri.

In a middling review, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian felt Deadpool 3 delivered everything a fan of the franchise would want, and the film makes it clear that it shouldn’t be taken too seriously. “This is a movie which more or less orders the audience to stop taking any of the proceedings seriously, shattering the fourth wall into a million pieces with material about nerds saving their ‘special sock’ for particular fight scenes,” writes Bradshaw. “It’s amusing and exhausting.”

Vanity Fair ‘s Richard Lawson felt Deadpool 3 stuck the landing, despite being “a movie about acquisition and IP, housed in a mostly nonsensical dimension-skipping tale of regret and legacy (but in a funny way). … The film’s gaze is narrow and insider-y, but it somehow kind of works,” writes Lawson, adding, “ Deadpool & Wolverine is an amusing reflection on the recent cultural past, and a half-cynical, half-hopeful musing on what its future might be.”

In a rave, The Daily Beast ‘s Nick Schager felt Deadpool 3 “does give the MCU the shot in the arm — and kick to the nuts — that’s urgently needed.” Schager writes that the film “is more amusing and electric — more alive — than any MCU installment in years, and it impressively integrates Deadpool’s distinctive R-rated personality into the decidedly PG-13 franchise.”

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Joaquin phoenix recalls lady gaga “spitting up coffee the first time i sang” in ‘joker: folie à deux’, jason reitman’s ‘saturday night live’ movie gets new title ahead of fall release, wolverine co-creator roy thomas on his ‘deadpool & wolverine’ credit: “my name should have come first”, james gunn celebrates ‘superman’ wrapping its shoot, channing tatum says “almost no one” has had his back like ryan reynolds: “he fought for me”, minka kelly to star in netflix’s holiday rom-com ‘champagne problems’.

Trap 2024 Movie Reviews: Critics Share Strong First Reactions

Anticipation grows as the first reviews for M. Night Shyamalan's Trap generate hype for its upcoming release in August.

Trap is a 2024 psychological thriller highlighting a serial killer named Cooper, "The Butcher" who goes to a Lady Raven concert with his teenage daughter. He later realizes that the concert is a trap set by law enforcement to try to catch him. 

The movie stars Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue It is set to premiere in theaters onAugust 2.

First Reviews for Trap Movie Shared Online

Following an early screening of Trap , critics shared their first reviews and reactions of the new M. Night Shyamalan movie. 

Overall reviews are largely positive, with most praising Josh Hartnett's performance, Shyamalan's direction, and the ominous vibe of the film. 

Physical Media calls Trap an "absolute banger" while commending Shyamalan and Hartnett: 

"I’m happy to report that 'Trap' is an absolute banger. Old M. Night Shyamalan is back with this one. Josh Hartnett killed it and I’m here for his comeback."

Screen Rant's Joseph Deckelmeier praised Shyamalan's "masterclass in building suspense" for the movie, describing Hartnett's performance as "captivating" and "absolutely brilliant:"

"M. Night Shyamalan gives a masterclass in building suspense for 'Trap.' Josh Hartnett is captivating and brings so much humanity to a dark character. He’s absolutely brilliant in this film." 

Deckelmier also singled out Saleka Shyamalan in the movie, noting that "she is a true triple threat in Trap :"

"I was blown away by Saleka Shyamalan!  She is a true triple threat in 'Trap.' The way that the energy of the music went hand in hand with tension that was building is genius!"

Reece (aka @guywithamoviecamera on TikTok) had a short yet impactful review for Trap , calling the film as M. Night Shyamalan's "best since The Village :"

"M. Night is back baby. 'Trap' rocks. His best since 'The Village.'"

Chris Gallardo of The Hollywood Handle went all-out in his praise for Trap , describing the movie as "a fun thriller that's a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan:"

"'Trap' was a fun thriller that's a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan! Blending the tones of the Halloween movies and the Hitman games, 'Trap' intricately blends these elements to create that ominous atmosphere."

Gallardo complimented Hartnett's facial expressions and dual personality as Cooper and Butcher, noting that the actor unleashed "his inner Michael Myers and Agent 47:"

"Josh Hartnett truly stands out here. His facial expressions were ON POINT when balancing Cooper the Butcher's fake and real personalities. He managed to channel his inner Michael Myers and Agent 47 all at once, adding to that creep factor."

Gallardo also pointed out that Trap "stands high alongside Shyamalan's other works like Split and Knock at the Cabin :"

"Plus, Saleka's songs are some fun bops! While the dialog may feel odd and the editing confusing at times, 'Trap' stands high alongside Shyamalan's other works like 'Split' and 'Knock at the Cabin.'"

Will Trap Be Another Box Office Triumph?

The 2024 movie lineup has been showcasing banger after banger in recent months, most notably with hits coming left and right such as Inside Out 2 (which just became the highest-grossing animated movie in history) and Deadpool & Wolverine 's smashing box office debut for an R-Rated project (per Deadline ). 

The strong critic reviews for Trap are a good indication that it will attract audiences wanting to see something new and thrilling next month.

Still, Trap is going up against some heavy competition in August, with the likes of Zachary Levi's Harold and the Purple Crayon (August 2) and Alien: Romulus (August 16) looking to outperform their box office projections.

This is on top of Deadpool & Wolverine 's expected dominance at the weekly box office.

M. Night Shyamalan is no stranger to success since his movies already amassed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office, and it's safe to assume that Trap will continue his momentum in ticket sales. 

Josh Hartnett is coming off a scintillating performance in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer where he and the rest of the cast won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 2023's Screen Actors Guild Award. 

Based on the reactions, Hartnett's brilliant acting chops seem to be the anchor of the movie, and he may have once again delivered another remarkable outing. 

Trap premieres in theaters on Friday, August 2.

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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Reviews Are In: Amusing or Exhausting?

Few critics could deny that the highly anticipated super spectacle, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has its charms — but most left wanting more.

• Share full article

By Reggie Ugwu

After a summer without superheroes, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is slashing its way into theaters.

The high-octane collision of the wisecracking antihero Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds in two previous films, and the hulking and messianic Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman (returning to the role for the first time since “Logan” in 2017), marks Marvel Studios’ only release of the calendar year. The movie, directed by Shawn Levy, is projected to have the best ever domestic opening weekend for an R-rated film .

Most critics have found something to like in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which has an 81 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes . They say it has a superpowered jokes-per-minute ratio and two winning performances from its lead actors. But many reviewers had a mixed-to-negative assessment of the movie overall, calling it difficult to follow, lacking in real tension or stakes and overly reliant on self-referential story lines.

Read on for some highlights.

Look, I Laughed [ Vulture ]

The movie’s aggressive sense of humor about itself may win you over despite its flaws. “‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ isn’t a particularly good movie — I’m not even sure it is a movie,” Bilge Ebiri wrote. “But it’s so determined to beat you down with its incessant irreverence that you might find yourself submitting to it.”

Nothing Ever Ends [ The New York Times ]

The movie’s existence reflects Hollywood’s inability to “let well enough alone,” wrote Alissa Wilkinson, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. “It still features Reynolds making fun of himself; it has some fun set pieces, clever sight gags, amusing surprises, left-field references and adoring pauses to admire Jackman’s biceps and abs.”

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Makes the M.C.U. the Villain — and Not in a Good Way [ Polygon ]

In a negative review, Joshua Rivera found the film dispiritingly hollow. “‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ has made its hero the worst kind of comic book character: one who doesn’t stand for anything.”

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Sarky Gagathon Mocks the M.C.U. Back to Life [ The Guardian ]

Peter Bradshaw appreciated the movie’s satirical bent while capturing a common complaint about it in a few words. “It’s amusing and exhausting,” he wrote.

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Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the tra... Read all Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art. Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.

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• 9 User reviews
• 29 Critic reviews
• 83 Metascore
• 4 wins & 2 nominations

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“Hundreds of Beavers,” a boldly bizarre, nearly wordless slapstick comedy about a 19th-century trapper doing battle with nature, exceeds expectations in every way, including the promise of its title. By my count there are thousands of beavers in this movie. Thousands! And oh, my goodness, they are nasty buggers. The BADL (Beaver Anti-Defamation League) will be out in force once they get word of this motion picture, which depicts an army of beavers building a dam into a bad guy lair to rival the volcano fortress in " You Only Live Twice " and the title structure of "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom." 

The hero, trapper Jean Kayak (played by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews – I can’t wait to see that name wrapping around a marquee), doesn’t get in there until the final section of the movie. Until that point, Jean’s got his hands full trying to survive in an icy mountain forest that looks as if somebody reimagined “ The Revenant ” as a black-and-white cartoon starring Popeye the Sailor Man. During regular visits with a merchant ( Doug Mancheski ) where Jean exchanges pelts for tools, the trapper falls for the man’s daughter ( Olivia Graves ), who acts demure but is quite randy. The price of marrying her is (ta- dum !) hundreds of beaver pelts. So there’s a love story, too, kinda like in the videogame "Donkey Kong".

The film’s writer, director, editor, and main visual effects artist Mike Cheslik has taken a page from other filmmakers who lean into budgetary constraints rather than fight them. “This is a punk lo-fi look,” he said in an interview with No Film School . “This is our style, man.” The non-human mammals featured in this movie—beavers and horses and raccoons and skunks and such—are human performers in mascot suits with zippers up the back. They have big round Disney-animal eyes and and walk on their hind legs (or march or trudge or stroll or skip). There were likely no more than a dozen of the “creatures” on set at any given time—according to Cheslik and producer Kurt Ravenwood , the entire budget of the film was $150,000, not including deferred labor costs—so what you’re looking at is one of the best inadvertent advertisements for the idea that you can create entire worlds on the cheap if you have a strong vision and turn what are usually thought of as liabilities into strengths.

The result is reminiscent of a mindset demonstrated, to wildly different ends, in David Lynch ’s “Eraserhead," Robert Rodriguez ’s “ El Mariachi ,” and the parts of Wes Anderson movies where he shows you, let's say, the Grand Budapest Hotel, and it’s obviously a miniature building on a miniature mountain, and not only is the movie not pretending it’s a real structure, the storybook-ness of the image is the point. Figurative, metaphorical or just plain sketchy images made with love and presented with pride have a totemic power that overcomes petty concerns about “production values” and plugs into the pleasure centers of the brain. This truth eludes far too many low-budget filmmakers who try for a “Hollywood look” and sadly achieve the cinema equivalent of a five-year old trying to dunk a basketball. “Hundreds of Beavers” understands this on a deep level.

In that spirit, many of the movements of people and animals in the movie are no more “realistic” than those of the little cutout-looking characters on “South Park.” And that’s what makes them funny. Jean shimmies up and down very tall trees, inchworm-style. Sometimes he’s nude when he does it. (Don’t worry, parents; the naughty bits are hidden by the bark he’s scraping against.) There’s a horse that’s blatantly just two performers sharing a “horse costume” that’s barely a costume. You can tell a character or creature has died because their eyes become huge X’s. It’s like in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” where they couldn’t afford real horses so the actors just skipped around the English countryside banging coconut halves together to suggest “hoofbeats.”

Cheslik hails from the “if it makes me laugh, I’ll do it” school of comedy filmmaking. The opening section, a musical montage, has just one non-animated character, Jean, whose applejack addiction destroys his life; the rest are drawn in the manner of underground “comix,” seemingly with fat-tipped markers. Period-specific facts and customs collide, Mel Brooks-style, with modernity. The merchant’s daughter tantalizes Jean with a half-inch glimpse of forbidden ankle, then escalates to a pole dance. The beavers occasionally wear clothes, including hardhats and reflective vests. One is seen carrying a clipboard. They appear to have invented electricity, the assembly line, and video surveillance. 

Cheslik has cited older forms of movie slapstick as influences, from the silent work of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to the sound-era comedy of The Three Stooges and Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy (referenced here in the form of two “detective” beavers investigating the string of beaver “murders” committed by Jean; they’re dressed to suggest Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson played by Laurel & Hardy played by beavers). Tews, a high school friend of Cheslik and a filmmaker himself, is a physical comedian of rare precision, giving a performance as vivid and fearless as the best of Jim Carrey and Bruce Campbell . The poster is modeled after one of the posters for the 1963 slapstick epic “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”   Real-world laws of physics rarely apply. Jean is shot through the air like a rocket and survives falling hundreds of feet from trees or being crushed by giant objects and pops back up to have another go. When famished characters stare at a potential food source, there’s a brief dissolve and you see that they are imagining a man-sized turkey drumstick or slice of pepperoni pizza.  

Another unifying stylistic force here is the video game, which gives shape to Jean’s quest and sub-quests. As the hero tries to learn how to survive, trap, and rack up pelts to win the hand of his love, there are regular cutaways to a map of trap lines and a numeric ticker showing his progress. The film’s climax is the part of a game where a player battles the “big boss.” 

This is a rare movie that invents its own incredibly specific kind of visual language and expects the audience to study it and become fluent (and by the end, they have). The video-game logic of the “learning” montages is the most modern touch in an otherwise proudly retro motion set of influences. Like other great video game-ish movies, including “ Run Lola Run ,” the “Matrix” franchise, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “ Edge of Tomorrow ,” but even more so, “Beavers” commits to that kind of storytelling, at times even seeming to “skip ahead” in a sequence in the manner of a player who impatiently resets a game rather sit through an avatar’s death throes again. 

Cheslik’s increasingly abrupt cutting-away to something else has a cumulative comic power that makes the totality of the movie even more energetic than it might have otherwise seemed. If Jean gets injured making the same mistake again, there'll be a cutaway mid-scream, then even earlier during the next scream; the next time you might not get a scream at all, just a cut to the aftermath. This is richly imagined escapist entertainment, a fun machine that opens up rarely used neural pathways and gets you thinking about what cinema could be, in addition to all of the things it already is. Future generations of low-budget filmmakers will derive inspiration and comfort from it. It’s one for the ages: a dam fine movie.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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Film credits.

Hundreds of Beavers (2024)

108 minutes

Ryland Brickson Cole Tews as Jean Kayak of Acme Applejack

Wes Tank as The Master Fur Trapper

Olivia Graves as The Furrier

Doug Mancheski as The Merchant

Luis Rico as The Indian Fur Trapper

• Mike Cheslik
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