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The Archies Review; The Riverdale aesthetic of ‘The Archies’ feels like a whipped cupcake for the sweet tooth’s!
It is a long gone era of getting palleted with simple yet mouthful of cinema during the bullet hours. We as movie goers, seek thrill, gripping plots that can make us seat on our couch like a glue and make our nerves go gaga with the twisted tales that we are totally used of! Not our fault indeed! It is the time and sheer modernness that stands in the falsehood of the long running cinematic history that urge movies that boggles your mind and soul and leave scattered with astonishing worthy endings. On the contrary, what if we seek for simplicities? What if I ask for a cupcake movie that feels light and makes me feel extremely good? What if one wants to dive into the childhood's dreamland that was forgotten in the pages of the past? Ask me no further, as Zoya Akhtar has finally presented the same movie that a particular section of fanatics sing melodies for! We are talking about Thursday released 'The Archies'.
The Archies felt like a Thursday therapy
Netflix India's most awaited romantic musical has finally un-curtained it's curiosity and led it's way among the public on Thursday, 7 December, 2023. Starring the Bollywood's newest starlets, Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and others, the movie has outshone a mixed reaction among it's filmy fans. While going through the unabashed ratings of the critics on the Internet realm, it has bottled my longingness to dive into the so-called Anglo Indian aesthetic movie but of-course until I have a taste on my own, how will I know, what if it fits me into the soul or the opposite? As I wrapped up watching the movie, let me go raw and real about the aesthetics, story, new actors of the tinsel town and what to expect from the 'one of a kind' movie.
What to expect?
The movie starts off with Veronica played by debutant actress Suhana Khan who returns back from London to Riverdale where her old friends are seeking pleasures in a not-so posh lifestyle. The simplicity of Veronica's friends is indeed it's jewel that will hook you from the start. 'The Archies' is friendship, it is love, it is eye pleasing, It is simple but most of all, 'The Archies' is a whopping musical. Speaking in a nutshell, every 15 minutes of the film will give you some dance numbers that are so retro, that even I couldn't stop and go all nuts, indeed in a good way! Coming back to the movie, It revolves around an Anglo-Indian hill station 'Riverdale' where the Green Park is it's soul and it's people are the bones that keeps the pleasing place moving.
Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor wins heart
Suhana Khan as Veronica feels like a cherry on a blooming cake. Her dialogue throw suits her personality with the film's finesse. She remains comforting all throughout the movie who goes beyond limits for her friends. As I stated earlier, it will surely serve you a good friendship! The richest girl of the town, who returns back to Riverdale after spending two years in London finds herself back in the warmth of her long lost lover Archie Andrews played by Agastya Nanda, who seems little confused while speaking off his dating life. Bachchan's grandson, 23 year old Agastya is one of the most 'raw' budding actor of the town I must confess. More than the lights, cameras and action, he immersed himself into the character and left no chunks for me to doubt on that.
Little lost in life and feelings, Andrew seems living a dilemma between the two girly besties, Veronica and Betty(played by Khushi Kapoor). Late Sri Devi's youngest daughter on the other hand does a wholesome justice to her character as well. Although a one, who could sharpen her refinedness a little more, I will never complain for the one who has stepped into the cinema's for the first time. If you are still on the verge to watch the movie, let me quote, "Khushi Kapoor as Betty feels too cute to be true" and what if I say, the Kapoor starlet can be the nation's newest crush. Her style, her sweet monotone, her innocence is something a viewer indeed looks for in a blossoming actress.
The other actors, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead, Aditi Dot as Ethel Mugs and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton does wholesome justice to their each's character. They are sweet, just like honey dipping from the television screens. The filmmaker, Zoya Akhtar did no wrong in choosing the starry star casts indeed. The whole group of friends seeks off on a journey for saving the heart of their town from the clutches of the money makers. Without giving you much from the film, here's what you can expect from the movie. Continue reading below to know more
The final Verdict
The movie is indeed not heavy to watch. Not much thrills, no action, no strong plot that will glue your arse on the couch but of-course it will glue your eyes. Taking us through the realm of classic comic 'The Archies', the aesthetics truly seats well with the ideology of living a long lost dreamland. The retro sets, the dialogues such as "hearts don't break, they are fractured" and "time heals everything" caresses your soul like a warm touch. The middle class families, who stands tall with their children and their aspirations shall give you peace and make you feel good with the surreal landscape of the hill station, although most of the film revolves around the town's heart 'Green Park' and I surely ain't complaining. The movie will not serve you suspense to be more specific, but the plot is rather very expected, wherein the starting and the ending of the movie is very much a movie lover would know and can easily gasp, 'I know what's coming next' but let me tell you, it is a movie you need to have to feel lighter in life. A creation where chaos walks off and take you through the tunnel of exquisite cinematography. If you would ask me to describe the Zoya Akhtar movie in one word, let me say, "soul pleasing". But it was suppose to be in one word right? Ooops, couldn't help!
NOTE: The opinions expressed earlier belong exclusively to the author; PTC Punjabi is not affiliated with the viewpoints expressed in the reviews.
- PTC PUNJABI
