A Flying Jatt poster

A Flying Jatt

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

quick review:

A preachy school play that could have meant more. A film that will get “well-intended, heart in the right place” nominations.

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Director: Remo D'Souza
Running time: 150 minutes
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A Flying Jatt takes the good vs. evil theme a bit too seriously. Sure, you can't expect anything less from a superhero film. But, A Flying Jatt takes every opportunity it gets to hammer a message down. I don't know what is worse – that it does so, or that it does so after avoiding it for the first half.

The first half treats the audience with some respect, allowing them to figure at least some stuff out by themselves. Post-interval it feels like the writers get the jitters and don't want to leave anything to chance. They quite literally spell out every thing. Like the film's metaphors for good and evil are clearly defined, to such an extent that they aren't representations any more. In fact, it is stretched out a bit too far.

The story book + fairy tale kind of narration makes you wonder if A Flying Jatt would have worked as a kids' film? Nope. One because it isn't marketed as such. Two, because the urban kids are just exposed to a lot better – in terms of story, action and performances. I won't even bring up the CGI, etc.

The movie even tries its hand at humor. It goes into spoof mode for a bit. However, the joke either falls flat because it goes on for too long or it ends up being slapsticky. And of course, Amrita Singh and Jacqueline Fernandez screaming and squeaking respectively, can hardly be called humor. Tiger Shroff stumbling and stuttering as he plays a martial arts teacher can make you smile only so much.

By the way, here's a quiz question – in which movie does Tiger Shroff play a character that doesn't require him to be a muscular guy who can do stunts, if not a martial artist? Hint: Trick question.

Jacqueline Fernandez' character, Kirti just makes it a point to highlight how pointless she is. Even Amrita Singh's character seems like a placeholder for strong women, as if to check the “feminism” box. Oh, and it hurt to see Kay Kay Menon reduced to a caricatured villain. Yet again.

Sure, A Flying Jatt has good intentions. But the moment you go all, “holier than thou” with speeches and history lessons, the cause is lost. The analogy of today's super-heros and villains was one thing that could have worked in favor of A Flying Jatt. Alas.

- meeta, a part of the audience

30 reviewers(?) - 1 yays 13 so-so 16 nays

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

Thumbs up, by Srijana Mitra Das,, Times of India : ...A Flying Jatt provides clean entertainment - with its innocence, it evokes more Haathi Mere Saathi and less cool-cat Krrish. The film takes off only because of its simplicity - a flying jatt who's afraid of heights, a rarity in dark times of Udta Punjab... full review

So-So, Bollywood Hungama : ...On the whole, A FLYING JATT has the ingredients that make an interesting superhero film. A section of the audience might find the film's proceedings to be corny; however, the mass audiences and kids might take a liking for the film. At the Box-Office, the film has the potential to fly, though, not to great heights. The extended weekend will help the film reap dividends at the Box-Office. ... full review

So-So, by Tushar P Joshi , Bollywood Life : ...A Flying Jatt would have soared had it not compromised its second half and become a preachy documentary on global warming. ... full review

So-So, by Sidhant Shori, Desi Martini : ... A fun but flawed superhero flick with a twist.... full review

So-So, by Vikas Gowani , Desi Martini : ...It's a good movie with good comedy and a nice message but it is a little long for that purpose so guys one time watch with whole family keep it up as watch with family with children. ... full review

So-So, by Zinia Bandyopadhyay, Desi Martini : ...If you have kids in the house- just get the tickets and go. Your little ones would just love it! If you don’t have one, you may still go. The film has its fair share of fun, romance, drama and action to make it paisa wasool! As a Superhero movie, this one is absolutely great. ... full review

So-So, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ... The movie hammers in the pollution message and that is quite a noble endeavor on Remo’s part. I wish he had a better way of doing it than the haphazard approach he adopts. Kids may enjoy it and it is, I guess, the start of a franchise. If he focusses on the comedy the sequel may be better or else Jatt save us. ... full review

So-So, by Rohit Vats,, Hindustan Times : ...A Flying Jatt begins on a good note, picks up the pace, throws some light-hearted moments, and then faces the curse of the second half. It drags its feet from becoming the smart film just when it’s needed and goes for the all-explaining commentary. ... full review

So-So, by Devarsi Ghosh , india today : ...A Flying Jatt is for kids.... full review

So-So, by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY : ...Eh? Well. You know what I mean. I'm merely glad this is at least an attempt at big-screen entertainment aimed purely at kids. How many homegrown options do we have anyway? Most adults, I'm afraid, won't give a flying duck. ... full review

So-So, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...In conclusion, A Flying Jatt is a decent kiddie fare, even if it is preachy and corny... ... full review

So-So, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...Superheroes are about hope, not fear. Unless, that is, you’re afraid to show your kids a superhero movie that focuses on twerking. ... full review

So-So, by NAMRATA JOSHI, The Hindu : ...A clunky script, comic book flat characters and a wafer-thin plot are propped up by needless song-n-dance routines, juvenile SFX and innumerable fights and confrontations. The climactic battle in space is hilariously ridiculous, with some unnamed planet, a satellite, rocket and nuclear battery, all thrown in. ... full review

So-So, by Raghav Jaitly, Zee News : ...We are giving half a star extra to 'A Flying Jatt' for putting forward crucial issues in front of the young India in a brilliant manner. School-going children will definitely step out of the theatre with a lot of learnings. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Anna MM Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...D’souza had displayed his natural wit even in his first film F.A.L.T.U. in 2011. A Flying Jatt could have been so much better than what it is, if he had not kept one eye fixed Westward for inspiration. This one is perhaps best suited to the very very young. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...A Flying Jatt lunges for drama, its gaping flaws are exposed. After a point, my body was making up its own movie: A Crying Butt... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...So with a humble request to Mr. Remo with folded hands, please let the SUPERHEROES of our kids remain The SUPERHEROES free of these questionable divisive religions creating another sick war.... full review

Thumbs down, by ROHIT BHATNAGAR, Deccan Chronicle : ...Sachin-Jigar’s music is hardly bearable and a few portions of the movie are reminiscent of Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish. Kids might like the film considering it’s a superhero flick, but 'A Flying Jatt' doesn’t fly and sinks without a trace. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Dev Raj Gulati, Desi Martini : ...Not much to recommend except to say that enjoy the festivities with a 'dekho' of The Flying Jat. ... full review

Thumbs down, by SARITA A TANWAR, DNA : ...You’ll have to be a superhero to bear this one. Strictly meant for Tiger Shroff fans. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...A Flying Jatt has all the trappings of a masala movie. There’s action, comedy, romance and drama. Sadly there’s just a big void of logic. If this were a Rajnikanth movie you’d lap it up without prejudice. But the fact is, this is a superhero movie trying to hard sell a “save the planet” narrative. You can’t convey such serious messages about environmental issues with such juvenile ideas. If you do, you end up looking like a super powered embarrassment. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...Frankly Remo would have been better off making another dance movie rather than a CGI infested superhero flick. This one is neither here nor there. Good may have vanquished evil eventually but at what cost to your senses..? Share this Post: ... full review

Thumbs down, by Jaiwantika Dutta-Dhupkar, fullhyd.com : ...The Flying Jatt is basically behind the scenes footage of what it means to be a superhero. It's three hours of simply saying "This is work in progress!" Maybe we should just wait for the real thing. This one is totally skippable. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Vishal Verma, Glamsham.com : ...The climax on moon sequence is an indication that how a figment of imagination can turn into an embarrassing situation if tackily handled and executed. Its unintentionally hilarious. Watch it for the intended and unintended fun and pun. ... full review

Thumbs down, Indicine : ...Conclusion: A Flying Jatt is a film that should be enjoyed by the section of the population whose mental age is less than 13. Kids will certainly enjoy the humour and the action but their parents will scratch their heads in dismay for deciding to be parents. A Flying Jatt is a movie that could be overlooked if you have other impending important matters this week. If you really have nothing to do, watch the dubbed versions of recent Hollywood superhero movies. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint : ... A Flying Jatt is derivative, sloppily structured and, especially in its later stages, tacky beyond belief. That it might also be the best Indian superhero film ever (barring Mr India, if that qualifies) is an indication of how low the bar is set.... full review

Thumbs down, by SAIBAL CHATTERJEE, NDTV : ...Elsewhere in A Flying Jatt, the thwarted and frustrated entrepreneur demands to know from his hatchet man where he should funnel the effluents that his factory produces. "Where," he thunders, "do I dump my waste?" ... full review

Thumbs down, by IANS, Sify Movies : ...Overall, the director seems to have lost the plot after the second act, as the narrative meanders making the entire comic affair agonising.... full review

Thumbs down, by Saumil Gandhi, Upper Stall : ...Tiger Shroff’s incredible athleticism is the only credible element in the film. He will probably never be an actor, but he sure as hell can pull off a superhero suit. Otherwise, there is little else to look out for in A Flying Jatt.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rummana, Zee News : ...Some people were deliriously laughing during the climax, I was worried for them, felt like they were reacting in disbelief at the ridiculousness of the events unfolding in front of them. Watch ‘A Flying Jatt’, if you want to take a closer look at Jacqueline’s booty on the big screen.... full review

6 tweeters(?) - 0 yays 0 so-so 6 nays

somakbasu: A Flying Jatt is a wonderful movie teaching us about how people get cancer from the pollution they make and 'do... https://t.co/8OlVoc9an6

PriyaReddy369: A Flying Jatt review: Tiger Shroff flies high, the film not so much https://t.co/bKELzORwSM https://t.co/MkQVCQ4yed

KaylaDz: Which idiot thought the movie a flying jatt would be a good idea. I feel embarrassed for them.

Jeetesh35205977: Watched A Flying Jatt... having headache n painin my Butt #TigerShroff #A Flying Jatt

Chhota_Bhim: No More Flying Jatts and Ra.Ones please: Why India doesn't need superhero films: India, a country of a thousa... https://t.co/nAgBrTHhRV

AnkitOjha: Decided to wash the memories of A Flying Jatt off with Happy Ending. What a great movie! Why did I even miss it in cinemas?

2 readers - 0 yays 2 so-so 0 nays

So-So, by Fan

So-So, by Nav Bajwa : good way to convey the message.

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

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Lots
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: Skimpily clad women in a few dances
  • Concept: Good vs. Evil. Trees vs. pollution.
  • General Look and Feel: Tacky.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:
Story:
Lead Actors:
Character Artists:
Dialogues:
Screenplay:
Music Director:
Lyrics:

A Flying Jatt - Cast, crew, links

Official Sites:
Director:
Supporting Cast:
Cinematography:
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Running time:
150 minutes
Reviewer:
Language:
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Comments (4)

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Fan

Ha ha ha. Trees v/s pollution.

Good one.

Well, wasted though.

Movie is good, Tiger did the fantastic job in movie..

Fan

If you watch it as a fantasy fairy tale (super man tale) with a liberal pinch of salt then it is an alright film. Do not expect anything serious from it.

The first half with an unwilling super hero, or rather a hero forced into the super hero business by his extra hyper Punjabi mom, is pretty comic. Taking a jab at various preconceived notions about super heros, it does pretty well to provide several light moments.

The second half, when the serious business starts, gets a bit preachy - but if you remain in the right mental comportment then it is a watchable film.

On performances front, Tiger seems to be getting more and more into comfortable zone - quite at ease with his role. Amrita Singh does well as the hyper Punjabi mom - although she risks getting stereotyped in such roles if she continues like this. Jacqueline is straight out of the Archies comics books and into this film - her (colourful) dresses, her hairstyle, her mannerisms, etc. are all straight out of the Archies.

And since we are in comics land, even the villain(s) KK and the Australian import, are human caricatures of your typical comic book villains.

A very light hearted film, trying to convey the message on the importance of saving the environment in a different way. The message remains as long as the film is running, after that it evaporates faster than clean air evaporates in a polluted city.

Watch it if you are a die hard film fan and have some spare time on hands. For all the others- give it A Flying Miss.

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