Manoj Bajpayee Impresses, Neeraj Pandey’s Direction Disappoints…

The movie works better when it slows down to examine its characters and the actors who beautifully play them. Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LeBeouf are in top form, both on and off the court, and the match itself is a satisfyingly tense nail-biter despite the ridiculous flashbacks during key match points.

The Jungle Book, for its all its surface vim and vigour, is essentially cast in the classic mould that the story demands. It is enlivened with the standard emotional tropes related to family, friendship and the virtues of staying together in the face of adversity. It is a children’s tale all right, but Favreau and screenwriter Justin Marks ensure that there is enough in the mix for everyone. Thanks to the way it balances epic scale with sustained emotional traction, The Jungle Book is an irresistible fare.

Overall, the film is not as enthralling as the story it is based on. Nevertheless, it has some redeemable qualities that still make it a winner.

When a wacky and wild absurdist comedy is delivered with a degree of control, it can work wonders. But Tere Bin Laden Dead or Alive has none of the spark of the original. It works on the principle that a madcap caper can get away simply by pulling out the stops. The end result is a riot all right, but it is singularly without the laughs.