Ready

wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?)

quick review:

This is no Dabangg because it has a plot that the makers try to stick to. Or is it just me being wishful? And it might sound like it, but this is a positive review coming from this forum.

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Director: Anees Bazmee
Cast: Salman Khan, Asin Thottumkal
Running time: 140 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Romance
More Movie Info

Ready - Preview

Salman Khan. Anees Bazmee. Together. Is this payback for my misdeeds from previous lives?

Or wait, maybe it is all for the best, after all. Two possibly awful films merge into one! Obviously, I'm the one who couldn't laugh at (let alone with) Dabangg or Welcome/No Entry. There are only so many times you can get excited about watching the same thing over and over again. Especially, when you know you don’t like that kind of stuff. Nothing new at all!

I wish I could really at least understand, if not enjoy, the Salman-mania. What's it the dance, the action? I just can't make myself call moving your trousers and collar dance. Wasn't there a time when Salman Khan actually danced? I remember him being good at it too. There's nothing novel to look forward to in terms of action, either. At least not from what the trailer gives us.

I've heard people swear by his "dialogue delivery". I just don't get it. The 2-minute promo above doesn't offer much in terms of that either. I guess, so far all the delivery has depended on some stoned-out writers. From what it looks like, Ready's writers seem to be way too sober, look at them try so hard to be "coo".

And I can barely make myself excited about seeing Asin. I don't see how her character will be anything more than someone who needs to be saved by Salman Khan from bad, bad people. Yeah, my confidence in the script is transparent. There must be some factor somewhere that'll make me go to the film with a clean slate. Just hope for cinema, maybe. Just can't see it right now.

To top it off, I'm not too much for the street-side type music that the Ready soundtrack is all about. Here are, I guess, worthier music reviews:
milliblog - "Character dheela is the only Pritam track that manages to sustain interest... Composer Devi Sri Prasad clearly owns this soundtrack with his single, tried and tested material!"

Dunkdaft - "Since last few movies, he is on roll with some bindaas moves in his own style. One can name the song just by seeing the steps."

music aloud - "6/10"

Apun Ka Choice - "2.5/5"

Bollyspice - "3/5"

Bollywood Hungama - "4/5"

- meeta, a part of the audience

I am in a state of shock. Ready actually has a sort-a, kind-a coherent story. Well of course, I'm using the word coherent loosely. And story. And what-the-hell, "sort-a, kind-a" too. What I'm trying to get at is, Ready has focus. Or more focus than the director's last outing and the actor's last outing. Put together, of course. I'm not joking or being sarcastic when I say, I found some of the one-liners and movie references in Readyquite witty. I talk defensively because of my general contempt for "mindless entertainers".

So, you have your standard "boy hates girl and yet wants to save her from the big, bad world" routine. Boy is Prem (surprise!) who can get away with anything and is played by your standard Salman Khan doing a "I can get away with anything, take that, you reviewers!" I actually saw one one-liner in which I smiled and thought, "wow! Comic timing and all, huh?"

I don't get phrases like "paisa vasool" and "time-pass". And surely I know nothing about what works for Salman fans. For example, Sakshi (one of the two Salmaniacs I know) tweeted -

Okay so the first half isn't all that great or anything.

and

2nd half zillion times better.

And I thought post interval, the film became more of the same from Anees Bazmee's world (along with its distasteful sproduction values). Till then, stuff was in the believable range. Like, you could see why Prem liked Sanjana and vice versa. Such logic is totally unheard of in this genre.

Also, what makes Ready a shade different from other Salman films is that the other characters in the film had something to do. They are a tad more than props that work towards establishing how cool Salman is. For example, Mohan Joshi has a few amusing quips. Though the mockery that Paresh Rawal makes of himself is pretty much the same. Asin looks barely presentable. What went wrong, make-up dada?

Another thing that happened here is that there was an attempt at passing on a social message. The irony of the social message was beyond hilarious. A husband realizes he's oppressing his wife, so he gives the woman "permission" to eat before him!?!

But, you know as well as I do, no amount of "different" within the confines of what Anees Bazmee can make is enough to make a film that I can whole-heartedly recommend. And, you know as well as I do, a Salman Khan fan cares two hoots for what I recommend or not. Go along and watch the next "creative" way in which his shirt comes off!

- meeta, a part of the audience

40 reviewers(?) - 11 yays 12 so-so 17 nays

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

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...It packs one gimmick after another. Also, the dialogues are totally mass appealing; they are simply mazedaar -- humorous and impactful, both at the same time. ... full review

Thumbs up, Bollywood Mantra : .... He incorporates full humor in the film and brought out the best from Salman.... full review

Thumbs up, by Payal Khanna, Desi Martini : ...Salman Khan is back with a bang... full review

Thumbs up, by Yusuf Poonawala, Desi Martini : ...7.5 ( 5 for Salman Khan alone) ... full review

Thumbs up, by Ankur Pathak, Desi Martini : ...I recommend this picture for the man who doesn't hide behind an autistic mask to gain sympathy or play an over-insolent collegian to inspire. He is himself, and he sets the turnstiles on fire when he is what he is. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Smita, Desi Martini : ...The only way to enjoy Ready is to watch it without a Dabanng hangover.... full review

Thumbs up, by Sukanya Venkatraghavan, Filmfare : ...Salman Khan’s nonchalant cockiness and absolute irreverance has to be marveled at. His comic timing is effortless and impeccable.... full review

Thumbs up, by K K Rai, Filmfare : ...A good fare.... full review

Thumbs up, by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com : ...But unlike DABANGG, there aren't many dialogues or action sequences that you'll treasure for a long time. ... full review

Thumbs up, by Divya Solgama, Gomolo.in : ...The first and biggest reason to watch the film is Salman, Salman and Salman.... full review

Thumbs up, by Komal Nahta, koimoi : ...READY will score at the box-office, thanks to a great start, super-hit music, Salman Khan and entertainment in a good dose.... full review

So-So, Best Of Bollywood : ...Entertaining in Parts... full review

So-So, by Rony D'costa, Desi Martini : ...Ready is poor mans Dabangg and Wanted.... full review

So-So, by Shakti Salgaokar, DNA : ...Bazmee gives you a crash course in all popular characters that Sallu has so far played. ... full review

So-So, by Kaveree Bamzai, india today : ...And he is charming. He blows kisses at Asin, who accepts them gratefully. He winks at the camera. He borrows happily from his own mythology... full review

So-So, by Udita Jhunjhunwala, Live Mint : ...It’s almost like a big tribute to, and summarized resume of, Khan’s films.... full review

So-So, by Shubha Shetty-Saha, MiD DAY : ...It seems like Sarath Saxena and Akhilendra Mishra were clearly instructed to go overboard and they have obeyed the director. ... full review

So-So, by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com : ...Salman back as lover-boy in 'Ready' ... full review

So-So, by Preeti Arora, Rediff : ...ull of stale gags and contrived humour but makes for a perfect weekend watch if you are a die-hard Sallu fan... full review

So-So, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...One wouldn’t recommend this film for kids. For the grown-ups, the film proves to be a strictly average entertainer... full review

So-So, by Janhvi Patel, StarBoxOffice : ...Asin makes a fitting comeback. The pretty girl has a lively screen presence and comic timing. ... full review

So-So, by P S Arjun, The Cine Segye : ...Post interval viewers might wish for an early climax, but in drags as much as possible that too with many ‘so called’ comedy sequences were hardly anybody laughs.... full review

So-So, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...The film is an unabashed ode to Salman Khan, the entertainer rather than the actor. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Stefan S, A Nutshell Review : ...it's an unfortunate spiral all the way down from there, failing to build up from the kick ass introduction.... full review

Thumbs down, by Naresh Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...Strictly for Salmaniacs!... full review

Thumbs down, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...Its neither WANTED nor DABANGG and a feeble show as expected from the director Aneez Bazmee.... full review

Thumbs down, by Deepa Deosthalee, Film Impressions : ...Director Anees Bazmee ensures that the heroine's character is supremely stupid (he sort of specialises in this trade).... full review

Thumbs down, by Deepa Gahlot, Film Impressions : ...If people like this sort of thing, they are welcome to it… their money, their time, who’s to stop them. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ...Asin is tolerable, despite her smug looks. She lets Salman overshadow her (wise decision, that).... full review

Thumbs down, by Mayank Shekhar, Hindustan Times : ...There are loony dons. There's joint family. There's wedding. It shouldn't take you long to figure the film's been directed by Anees Bazmee ... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...you sit there in your seat watching 'Ready', and waiting for a joke - any joke, even half funny - to draw a laugh out of you. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...I had some hopes that Asin would liven up the proceedings, like she did in `Ghajini’. But here she comes off like a cut-rate Sridevi, with the same kind of squeaky delivery, but without the sparkle or the spunk.... full review

Thumbs down, Mixed Bag : ...There are few songs all over the place, disconnected from the movie.... full review

Thumbs down, by Mansha Rastogi, Now Running.com : ...If you are not ready for a brainless flick do not go for Ready. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Ankit Ojha, Planet Bollywood : ...For a Telegu movie, the story and screenplay might have been alright, but for this belt, it just doesn’t seem to work.... full review

Thumbs down, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...Mahesh Manjrekar [ Images ], Manoj Joshi, Sharat Saxena do what they can, but this film -- where the comedic highpoint is the fact that two morons are named after Salman flops, Veer and Yuuvraaj -- doesn't give anyone, especially the talented and creatively abused Paresh Rawal [ Images ], any wiggle room.... full review

Thumbs down, by Khalid Mohamed, Review and views uncensored : ...Ready, unsteady, don't go... full review

Thumbs down, by Reel Reptile, Upper Stall : ...Oh forget it, this review is officially over. Much like our patience with these nonsensical comedies that only reinforce the stereotypical notion of Indian cinema being nothing brainless song-and-dance musical extravaganzas to be watched instead of the local circus acts.... full review

Thumbs down, by Kunal Guha, yahoo! India : ...After several songs, excessive hamming and dialogues like "Iska koi resort nahin. Isse acha hain ki aap resort book karlo"and "In that case, mere paas aaja mere suitcase"... full review

Thumbs down, by SpiceZee Bureau, Zee News : ...cheesy comedy!... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

9 readers - 2 yays 3 so-so 4 nays

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Kaaliya

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Rahul : Would have rated it so-so, but a Thumbs Up for Asin.

So-So, by guddu : liked it

So-So, by Nitin Sharma : Get ready to laugh a little with one man army action-comedy

So-So, by sell diamonds nj,

Nay! Thumbs Down, by amit kaundinya

Nay! Thumbs Down, by Punk

Nay! Thumbs Down, by Vishal

Nay! Thumbs Down, by Vonou

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

Plot Summary

Boy (Salman Khan), Prem wants to save his girl (Asin Thottumkal), Pooja from evil.

What Worked

  • The way in which Prem calls a suicide bluff.

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 titles! The least any decent film does these days is to have good title sequences. They didn't.
  • The special appearances.
  • The stunts.
  • Random placement of songs.

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Loads of fist fights
  • Language: Clean
  • Nudity & Sexual content: A scene implying that Salman and Asin are making out.
  • Concept: Boy wants to save his girl from evil.
  • General Look and Feel: Loud, light and bright.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

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

Comments (8)

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Rahul

Another senseless movie that will rake in the moolah at the box office. :(

Rahul has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(Would have rated it so-so, but a Thumbs Up for Asin.). Rahul has posted 87 comments and has rated 16 movies. See Rahul's page for more details.
Rahul

I am shocked. You make the film sound almost "watchable". I might actually see this now.

Rahul has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(Would have rated it so-so, but a Thumbs Up for Asin.). Rahul has posted 87 comments and has rated 16 movies. See Rahul's page for more details.
meetu

But then again Rahul, there are enough people who think this has no story even compared to DAbangg :-o let us know what you think, if you watch it that is. :D

Nitin Sharma

Ready is completely for mass audiences out of metros, embedded with masala ‘one man army’ formula. It doesn’t justify itself as a full on laugh film.

Nitin Sharma has given this movie a So-So(Get ready to laugh a little with one man army action-comedy). Nitin Sharma has posted 1 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Nitin Sharma's page for more details.
meetu

@Amit oh come on! it's not like i wrote a glorious review. And the "coherent plot" line was a joke!

@ligne i don't know. there just seemed to be a flow in what was happening notwithstanding how weird it all was.

@Nitin. So-so that's what i'm saying.

@Simy aha! let me know how you like it.

guddu

nice review meetu as usual........but it's strictly for Salmaniacs of which i happen to be member as well.we only enjoy watching Salman bhai on screen and don't care much about the plot or logic if required.we simply enjoy Salman bhai and yes we are impartial towards others in our ideology.

guddu has given this movie a So-So(liked it). guddu has posted 143 comments and has rated 73 movies. See guddu's page for more details.
Rahul

It was not as over the top as Singh is King (the last Anees film that I watched), nor was it all over the place as Dabangg was. Of course, the side characters are dispensed off without an explanation, and each character is a caricature. Nothing unexpected happens, yet somehow it does not get boring.

Then there is Asin, so why not watch it! :P

Rahul has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up(Would have rated it so-so, but a Thumbs Up for Asin.). Rahul has posted 87 comments and has rated 16 movies. See Rahul's page for more details.
Kaaliya

People are waiting for a wholesome entertainer for a long time, thats why Ready working big time.

Kaaliya has given this movie a Yay! Thumbs Up. Kaaliya has posted 2 comments and has rated 1 movies. See Kaaliya's page for more details.

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