Directors: Alfred D Samuel
Writer: Jineesh K Joy
Producer: Manoj Sreekanta
Cast: Anikha Surendran, Melvin G Babu, Johny Antony, Manju Pillai, Rithu Fathima, Vijayaraghavan, Mukesh, Mukesh, Lena, Nandu Krishnamurthy
Crew: Alfred D Samuel, Manoj Sreekanta, Jineesh K Joy, Shaan Rahman, Ansar Shah, Lijo Paul
This Friday, Alfred D Samuel's film "Oh My Darling," starring Anikha Surendran and Melvin G. Babu, will be released in theatres (Feb 24). The teaser and trailer performed a good job of generating interest in the movie, but some viewers were turned off by the lead characters' intoxication. Anikha Surendran reveals in an exclusive interview with ETimes that "Oh My Sweetheart" does not in any way glorify alcohol use.
Although there are parts in "Oh My Darling" where the key actors are seen drinking, Anikha Surendran underlines that the act isn't celebrated. "There are consequences to what the characters are doing, which you will understand once you watch the film," she says. We are not romanticising alcohol consumption.
The numerous choices that the protagonists of accidental pregnancy movies like Katherine Heigl's comedy Knocked Up and Anna Ben's drama Sara's had to make while coming to terms with their circumstance are highlighted. This is frequently the main hook for these films because it guides the audience through their journey, regardless of how painful the circumstances or controversial the characters' choices may be. It would be unjust to contrast these movies with Oh My Darling, the first picture by Alfred D Samuel, which offers, possibly, the most ludicrous perspective on pregnancy yet.
The movie, which stars Anikha Surendran, Melvin G. Babu, Mukesh, Lena, Johny Antony, and Manju Pillai, was marketed primarily as a feel-good romcom, but this impression is short-lived after the first 20 minutes. The Jineesh-written movie then plods through in uninteresting territory as it explains how protagonists Jenny, a K-Drama nut, and Joel, a slacker, deal with a situation Joel wishes to escape.
While there is an attempt towards the end of the movie to show how absurd Jenny's reasoning is when she chooses to retain the child over Joel's counsel, who all of a sudden seems to be the wiser of the two. Instead of attempting to make light of the issue, the filmmakers choose to focus on a subplot involving Joel's family. They somehow succeed in completely ignoring Jenny's feelings during that process. This could be interpreted as a deliberate action, as the false pregnancy that Jenny's parents eventually tell Joel does explain why no one in the family seems to notice Jenny's erratic behaviour or even the ladder that hangs from their daughter's room in broad daylight, as well as Jenny's dubious decision for her age. But, there isn't a solid justification for why Joel agrees to it. Also, even if the explanation does mention a medical problem, Joel's reactions and the way it is presented to him and broken down make it seem ludicrous.
The duration of the film also does it no favours because there are long, boring parts where either Jenny and Joel are out having even more pointless chat with his uncle and friends or Joel is out having stupid conversation in the middle of their predicament. This also saps the film's vigour, which it possessed in the first half.
Anikha plays the part of a joyful college student rather naturally, but Melvin lacks the charisma to distinguish between the two stages of Joel's life. With a string of turns that become increasingly confusing and absurd, this forgettable movie starring Johny Antony and Manju Pillai has a few amusing moments.
Note
In Oh My Darling, Jeni and Joyal's love story is told, along with some of the funniest things that have ever happened to them.The normally easygoing Joel is forced to make a number of choices as soon as he learns that his girlfriend Jenny is pregnant before the rest of the world finds out. Joel must now organise his life because Jenny is unwavering in her resolve to avoid having the child aborted. What other decisions does he have to make while on this unexpected voyage, and will he be able to do it?
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