Valentine’s day offing Love Aaj Kal 2 is similar to the film that it is named after. It tells two love stories: 1 love story playing out in today’s world and flashbacks of second love story based in the 1990’s. To tell the 2 hour 20 minutes story in a few lines, twenty-two-year-old Zoe Chauhan (Sara Ali Khan) does not want to get into a serious long-term relationship. She wants to pursue her career and only indulge in non-committal relations but then our hero Veer (Kartik Aaryan) steps into her planned life. However, the twist in the story is Raghu (Randeep Hooda), who narrates his love story, which makes Zoe question her choices.
The great thing about Imtiaz Ali is that he tells stories of our times - present day relationships with present day conflicts. Unwilling parents and zaalim samaaj have been replaced by conflicts of career and love. So a great premise for a love story, actually love stories, as the film promises two! But then suddenly sab thanda pad gaya!
Today’s relationships have an important component – sex. We get it. Skin-to-skin (sex wala) love we like, but it’s not the only thing that keeps a relationship going. In a movie that’s supposed to be about love, we need our toes to curl and our hearts to melt-like-chocolate kind of romance, especially on Valentine’s Day!
Sadly, there is no mushy-ness in the film, like AT ALL. Geeks can also be cute even when they are awkward, par apna Aryan did not evoke any awww wala emotions. There was more chemistry between Raghu (who plays the owner of the co-working space) and Zoe. There were moments when we couldn’t help but falling in love with those two insead of our lead characters.
The biggest disappointment is Zoe’s character. Director sahaab ladki ka dil samajh hi nahi paaye. She is the central character. We are supposed to feel for her! But portraying her as someone who is 'there for fun and uses guys for free drinks' makes her almost unlikable at times. Her career alaap is jarring and unconvincing. We can’t help but wonder: Would the director have been as biased towards a hero who was career-oriented? Wasn’t the portrayal of our young heroine too harsh?
The characters, the director and the film are trying to say something about relations and commitment. Yet the judgment the film passes is yuck! Not committing to one person is as fine as is committing to one partner. By choosing to be with one partner or multiple partners, we are not right or wrong as long as you and your loved one(s) understand and agree. Bottom line is: love and let others love why should it be an either/or? What works for one may not work for another person? Film ki ye baat samajh nahi aayi LM ko.
If that wasn’t enough, the hero comes across as a creep for the first 50 minutes. I-cant-do-it-to-you-because-there-is-more-to-us approach doesn’t work! Boss, you took her all the way to your house from a club, we see desire and just when things were to get hot and soft, you go cold… like HOW! What about a girl’s desires, hero?
So we will give 3 LM Monsters to Imtiaz Ali for missing out on all the love potential of the film! Today young people want sex and can talk about it but that doesn’t mean that they don’t want romance. Imtiaz uncle chohdo kal ki baatein! Aaj ka love wants it all!
But for doing the job that he usually*** does best telling tales of today’s love – Imtiaz Sir and his new movie also gets 2 LM hearts!
In Love Matters Movie Reviews, movies are for analysed for how they have portrayed Love, Sex and Relationships. The movie that shows LM-style romance will get LM Hearts! And the film that loses sight of consent, judgment or rights, it will meet the LM Monster!