Movie Review: London Paris New York (2012)

Reviews | March 2, 2012 at 11:13 am

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Rom-coms appear to be the most preferential genre, notwithstanding the fact that you can foretell where the narrative is headed a few minutes into the film. But what sets most rom-coms apart is the implementation of the theme. It all hinges on how persuasively the narrator recounts and executes the plot, how compelling the central characters are, how mesmeric is their chemistry on screen and most importantly, does the cinematic account have soul?

The Hindi film industry is famed for churning out rom-coms by the dozens year after year, but just a handful of films dare to defy the stereotype. LONDON PARIS NEW YORK, directed by first-timer Anu Menon, is, in all honesty, one of those flicks that dares to be diverse.

LONDON PARIS NEW YORK is a chic rom-com that’s filmed — no prizes for guessing — in three hot-n-happening cities of the world. But unlike the rom-coms churned out in the past, this one’s more for spectators with urban receptiveness and a refined taste for cinema, on the lines of say an EK MAIN AUR EKK TU or a WAKE UP SID. What also sets this film apart is the fact that the story unfurls in eight years in three of the world’s most thrilling cities, with the viewer getting a foretaste of everything that’s allied with a rom-com in this globe-hopping voyage.

LONDON PARIS NEW YORK mirrors the torment and ordeals of the twenties, the most vivid segment of one’s life — when you are taking a call on what course your life ought to take, you have your first momentous relationship and most significantly, structure your personality in this world. This is the story of Lalitha [Aditi Rao Hydari], a middle class South Indian girl from Chembur [a suburb in Mumbai], who is on her way to New York to study politics, and Nikhil [Ali Zafar], a rich Punjabi kid from Bandra [a posh western suburb of Mumbai], who’s going to study film making in London. They decide to hang out together one evening in London and find that they are completely drawn to each other even as their future lies on separate continents.

The film follows their special voyage and their love story as they meet in London, Paris and New York over eight years. The film is in three subdivisions and each chapter is shot in a manner that mirrors the psychological state of Nikhil and Lalitha.

Reviews:

Good Reviews  |  Average Reviews  |  Bad Reviews
Positive Reviews
3.5	“LONDON PARIS NEW YORK is akin to a lungful of fresh air amidst the hackneyed and passe rom-coms.” - Bollywood Hungama
3.0	“London Paris New York is a sweet story that deals with very real emotions.” - Times Of India
3.0	“LONDON PARIS NEW YORK is bold and beautiful! This movie should be a definite must see on your ‘to do list’ this weekend.” - Glamsham
3.0	“London, Paris, New York, is worth a watch.” - Movietalkies
3.0	“LPNY is a short and sweet romcom that will leave you with a smile. Go for it.” - DNA India – Aniruddha Guha
3.0	“Like most rom coms, the boy is a duffer and the girl is super smart.” - India Today
3.0	“London Paris New York’ is a smile through feel good film that retains such mood for most part of its narrative…” - Indiaglitz
3.0	“London Paris New York an enjoyable film” - IBN Live
Average Reviews
2.5	“This movie gets it right in the first half. Despite the trepidation of watching yet another rom-com, grow up and accept yourself kind of movie, Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari pull it off.” - NDTV Movies
2.5	“It’s postcard perfect but also a little plastic.” - Hindustan Times
2.5	“What works for the film is the way the three cities have been captured by cinematographer Sameer Aarya. “ - Mid-Day
2.5	“Something worth a watch if you haven’t got expectations as high as the Eiffel Tower. “ - Apunkachoice
Negative Reviews
2.0	“London Paris New York is a run-of-the-mill romantic comedy but scores in the cinematography department.” - Rediff
2.0	“London, Paris, New York is for the ones who haven’t seen Before Sunrise or are plain lovers of sugar mush.” - Nowrunning
2.0	“Worth a one time watch with a loved one only for the lead pair.” - DNA India
2.0	“Lack of story telling takes away the chance from the movie to enter the arena of popcorn films.” - Daily Bhaskar
1.0	“Watch it for a different movie experience.” - koimoi

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