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Saturday, April 27, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD PLAYING IT COOL
EDITOR'S PICK
'Playing
It Cool' - Predictable fare, muted by censor board (IANS Review)
Rating:
**1/2
For the Indian audience, the saddest parts of Playing It Cool are the numerous
muted moments imposed by the Indian censor Board. The one-to-many blanks in an
intense scene simply take away the joy of viewing.
That apart, this frothy, quirky rom-com starts off on a rocky keel with its
unique style of narration. It is a boy meets girl story. Here, Chris Evans is
the narrator of the tale. Fraught with cynicism, he plays an action screenwriter
forced to write a rom-com for Bryan (Anthony Mackie) and through his journey as
a writer, he weaves in his personal life.
He tells us of his views on romance and his numerous escapades, which usually
end with the girl confiding in him, I love you, and his blatant response, I
don't see myself feeling the same way about you. And obviously these ended on a
disastrous note.
To make matters worse, his set of friends -- Scott, Lyle, Samson and Mallory --
are of no major help.
Then, one fine day at a charity dinner, he meets Her (Michelle Monaghan). Sparks
fly, the electrifying current of romance ignites within him. He is smitten by
Her. But before he can advance any further, she is whisked away by her
boyfriend, Stuffy (Ioan Gruffudd).
Stranded and not knowing anything about her, he is ready to give up till he is
cajoled by his grandfather with, What kind of man are you? You don't even fight
for the girl you love.
So, like in Cinderella, he begins his search for his love by attending charity
functions, till he finds her. After finding her, they go out on a friend date.
And all through he pretends to play it cool by being just friends.
On the performance front, Chris Evans is charming and relatable. So is Michelle
Monaghan. They make a lovely pair. But, unfortunately, there is a lacuna in
their onscreen chemistry which haunts them throughout.
All the other supporting characters are flat, one dimensional characters. The
cast doesn't offer anything to make their personas outstanding.
The script contains all the tropes of a romantic comedy, which may seem cliched.
But it is the treatment in the screenplay which adds to the novelty factor. It
is the intercuts of the narrator's voiceover and his alter-ego in a black suit
framed in a sepia tone that makes the narration interesting. It is over a period
of time that the film settles as a charming entertainer.
The dialogues are taut, sprinkled with witty one-liners, they impart the
required punch. A few metaphors describing lifecycle are beautifully integrated
to add poignant moments to the narration. This is evident during the scene,
where the two of them are strolling on the beach watching the waves. Michelle
tells Chris, how she is intrigued by the clashing of the waves. She elaborates:
Two waves travel a lifetime to meet and clash and gradually merge to be one, to
start their lifecycle again, with a fresh new beginning.
With less of action between the protagonists and more of discerning analysis of
the emotion, love, the script only surfs through the subject. Romance, an
adventurous risk, is tackled theoretically and thus, loses its focus
occasionally. Also, the climax ends on a weak note, hence the film does not
create or leave an impact on the viewers.
On the technical front, the film has a smug tone. It is packed with fantasy
elements, back stories, live action, along with animation and computer generated
effects. There are also obvious plot twists and narrative leaps in time and
location which makes, aPlaying It Cool' a predictable fare.
