Force

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Force is a perfect masala film, which also means, it is perfectly predictable. And yet, Force keeps you engaged. It has everything in the right proportion - romance, action, drama. But it doesn't have that one overwhelming factor which can make me recommend it to you without any reservations. I have to add caveats like, if you are into hard-core action, if you like borderline genuine romance, if you don't mind the two interrupting each other, then watch it for sure.

Director: Nishikant Kamat

Cast: John Abraham, Genelia D'Souza

Running time: 140 minutes

Genres: Action, Crime, Docu-drama

More Movie Info

Force - Preview

There is nothing exciting about an action film. For example, from the trailer it looks like none of the action elements will have anything we haven't seen in Hollywood before. Well, Hollywood these days, hardly has anything that we haven't seen in Hollywood before. Besides, the 2.5-minute trailer of Force itself gives away the entire set-up of the film. My estimate is, that covers the first hour of the film or so.

Which means, the action, the romance, the fun will have to make double the effort to engage. My bet is that it won't. Considering the romance and fun bit require good timing and neither John Abraham nor Genelia D'Souza can be appreciated for their acting skills from the films they've done so far. So, unless there's a 180-degree turn hidden there somewhere, there is barely anything to look forward to. The only thing that might make me give Force a fair chance, actor-wise, is the films John Abraham chooses every once in a while. But I have my reservations about this one.

Add to that the list of films produced by Vipul Shah and you have clichéd, typical Bollywood masala written all over the film. Again as proven by the peep we get through the trailer.

Amongst all these negative vibes, there is one small reason to have hope though. Director, Nishikant Kamat's ventures so far. I've heard a lot of good things about Dombivli Fast and I remember having an overall positive feel about Mumbai Meri Jaan. So, in short, there is hope. Meanwhile, the music seems to be just about lukewarm.

Music Reviews:<br /) Milliblog - "just adequate"
Music Aloud - "7.25/10"
Bollyspice - "3/5"
Bollywood Hungama - "3/5"
Happy Sing - "If you’re one for quality music, Go. Buy."
Planet Radiocity - "3/5"

- meeta, a part of the audience

If you made a list of things that an ideal action-romance film should have. Force would have checkmarks in all the boxes.

Good vs. Evil
Strong action-packed sequences
Breathers from the action - emotional /comic scene, or in our Hindi parlance a song
A believable romance
Functional sidekicks
A dreaded villain

When you consider the overall package, it isn't a film that you HAVE to rush to the theater to. It's a good-looking film which balances the tightrope of narrating a story with simplicity and fulfills its "commercial" obligations. But, it misses out on having that something extra - call it a zing, call it a soul.

As I write these words, to my own eye I come across as a slave-driver who expects the world out of her movies. But, there is something out of place, when I am making a checklist and thinking aloud, "everything is there, then why did it feel so choppy, so functional?"

The generic treatment given to Force is rather clinical. But, there are scenes that work. Some action sequences are grueling enough to make you want them to stop. The romance has a couple of genuine moments, as in you can see why these two are falling in love with each other, the gap that they fill in each other's' lives is clear. The villain is intelligent and not some caricatured, over-stylized "creature". In fact, he is a handsome villain. I don't remember the last time a villain could have passed off as the hero.

Which also means the casting is perfect. And that's not limited to Vidyut Jamwal who plays Vishnu - note the irony - the destroyer of all things good, the villain. John Abraham couldn't have been cast better. He has to play an honest Asst. Commissioner of Police who has no family or friend ties because he wants to focus on his work. So single-minded is he in his work that, he is called sookha jhaad - a dead tree. And if there's anyone in the industry who can play a dead tree, John Abraham is the man! And no, there is no sarcasm here. I say this with utmost sincerity that this was perfect casting. His muscles make him drool-worthy and the grit on his face makes him a great, rigid police officer. Genelia D'Souza passes off as a breath of fresh air that she needs to be in such a sullen environment. But, nothing anyone else couldn't have carried off neither something we haven't seen her do earlier.

That Force is a perfect, typical masala film is both its strength and its weakness. You enjoy it while it lasts, but it doesn't linger on any of your senses. When good people die, you feel bad, but your heart doesn't reach out to them. When evil people die, you are relieved, but you are not that angry at him that you want to see his meat minced. You are engaged in the 2+ hours but you are not involved.

- meeta, a part of the audience

37 reviewers^(?) - 4 yays 23 so-so 10 nays

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

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...Remakes are in!... full review

Thumbs up, by Payal Khanna , Desi Martini : ... Power Packed!... full review

Thumbs up, by Smita , Desi Martini : ...Forceful and entertaining... full review

Thumbs up, Free Press Journal : ...John Abrahams action skills dominate his performance.... full review

So-So, by Anna M.M.Vetticad , annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...Force is a very faithful re-telling of Kaakha Kaakha.... full review

So-So, by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...'Force' is good but not great... full review

So-So, Daily Bhaskar : ...Action, Action and more Action... full review

So-So, by Meena Rupani , desi hits : ...Action, action, and more action was in this film... full review

So-So, by Ameetbhuvan, Desi Martini : ...Not A Patch On The Original... full review

So-So, by Rony Dcosta , Desi Martini : ...Muscle Pow!... full review

So-So, by Aniruddha Guha , DNA : ...Force lands a solid punch... full review

So-So, by Deepa Gahlot, Film Impressions : ...Lacks a certain something that stops a well made movie from being a must-watch.... full review

So-So, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ... This is a John Abraham movie all the way... full review

So-So, by Samrat Sharma , Fully Hyderabad : ...For those who missed out on Kaakha Kaakha... full review

So-So, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...If you like to feel the rush of adrenaline, FORCE is for you. ... full review

So-So, by Somak Basu, Gomolo.in : ...Force is not such a bad fare, especially not for the hardcore masses.... full review

So-So, by Komal Nahta, koimoi : ...Force has taken a good start. Its action will see it sail through comfortably.... full review

So-So, by Shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...Force: Action Fiesta... full review

So-So, Movie Talkies : ...Action Abraham, 'Force'ful Punch. ... full review

So-So, Mumbai Mirror : ...Force = content x action... full review

So-So, by Subhash K. Jha, Now Running.com : ...Force - action speaks louder than words ... full review

So-So, by Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Reuters : ...Force: If only muscles could act... full review

So-So, by K K Rai, STARDUST : ...A good fare.... full review

So-So, by Rony D'Silva, The Friday Freak : ...Force is an energetic, almost traumatic telling of the life and times of people in the police force... full review

So-So, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...Finally, an unbridled action entertainer that is not a no-brainer!... full review

So-So, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...Force is a heady cocktail of high powered action ... full review

So-So, Zee News : ...‘Force’ is a treat for action lovers! ... full review

Thumbs down, by Stefan S , A Nutshell Review : ...A pretty bland effort overall... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...It has no power in its punch.... full review

Thumbs down, by Githa Vanan, Bolly Spice : ...force doesn’t always work.... full review

Thumbs down, by Mayank Shekhar, Hindustan Times : ...Force is about rapid action... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...'Force' has a weak central performance... full review

Thumbs down, by Kaveree Bamzai , india today : ...If muscles could speak... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta , indian express : ...Force is too long... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...Force is boring... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...In need of a 'Forceful' story... full review

Thumbs down, by TheThirdMan, Upper Stall : ...film is not a very happy experience ... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

7 readers - 4 yays 3 so-so 0 nays

Want to Watch, by GoFundMe Crowdfunding Website

Want to Watch, by we-vibe 4

Yay! Thumbs Up, by bollywood : I think its a good movie

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Rachit Gupta : Worth the 45 mile drive! Liked it!!! Some good action and shock, horror better than Salman starers!

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Shashi

Yay! Thumbs Up, by wevibe4

So-So, by Anand Balakrishnan : 40

So-So, by Linda

So-So, by Suman

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

Plot Summary

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yash (John Abraham) and his secret teams manages to eradicate all the major gangs that deal in various types of narcotics. What will happen when the new breed of drug-dealers arrive?

What Worked

The lighting and the style in which the opening sequence is shot.
The villain's entry.
The chase sequence at the bus depot.

What did not

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

The in-the-face product placement in the first half an hour or so.
The tattoos drawn on John Abraham's arms.
The dialogues spouted by dying characters! Uggh!

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Loads and loads
Language: Mostly clean
Nudity & Sexual content: A girlfriend and boyfriend talking about sex. One start of a kiss.
Concept: Good vs. evil
General Look and Feel: Bright and smart.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction:

Story:

Lead Actors:

Character Artists:

Dialogues:

Screenplay:

Music Director:

Lyrics:

Force - Cast, crew, links

Official Sites:

Website Facebook [Facebook page of Force]

Twitter

YouTube

Wikipedia

IMDB

Banner:

Fox Star Studios

, Sunshine Pictures Pvt Ltd, T Series

Producer:

Director:

Lead Cast:

Supporting Cast:

Mohnish Behl, Raj Babbar

Story:

Screenplay:

Dialogues:

Cinematography:

Editor:

Background Score:

Sameer Phaterperkar, Harris Jayaraj

Action Choreography:

Christian Howard

Choreography:

Bosco, Caesar Gonsalves, Bosco Martis

Lyrics:

Javed Akhtar

Running time:

140 minutes

Reviewer:

meeta

Language:

Hindi

Country:

India

Genres:

Action, Crime, Docu-drama

Comments (4)

Click here for new comment

meetu

@moviebhakt well, i haven't seen the original, so didn't see any point in mentioning it. I want to watch it though. Too many films, too little time!

@Rachit wow! that's nice. watching force did make me want to check out the original film. will do eventually.

@Anand i won't be surprised!

Jitaditya

was actually looking for Saheb Biwi & Gangster review... there seems to be no mention of it in the site...

jitaditya has posted 34 comments and has rated 9 movies. See jitaditya's page for more details.

Shashi

Its a great review.. well balanced and proper... may end up seeing the movie too..

Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/09/still-life-secessionist-movement-and-my.html

Shashi has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up. Shashi has posted 1 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Shashi's page for more details.

music.pk

The movie look great but still looks like a sequel of Tamil action style but John new Body structure is working for the movie.

bollywood has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(I think its a good movie). bollywood has posted 2 comments and has rated 1 movies. See bollywood's page for more details.