Movie Review: “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar”
Movie Review: “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar”
“Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar” directed by Luv Ranjan, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, tells a story of a boy meets girl, falls in love, and then falls out of it equally soon. The film presents a predictable and stereotypical romantic plot that lacks innovation and freshness. Families get involved, and there is a climax that is no rocket science to guess.
The film plays with the extremes where the funny parts are extremely funny, and the boring parts are intolerably boring. The characters are confident and gorgeous onscreen, and that’s what Ranjan focuses on, showing countless close-up shots of them – crying, laughing, kissing or shamelessly ogling at each other.
In parts, it feels like a mixture of Ranbir Kapoor‘s earlier films, and Ranjan peppers it with signature romcom flavor taking punches from Pyaar Ka Punchnama as well as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety – oh yes, there are cameos that give a crossover feel. However, “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar” never comes together as a wholesome, perfect script that you would laud wholeheartedly.
Micky (Ranbir) and Tinny (Shraddha) meet at the bachelor party of their respective best friends Dabbas (Anubhav Singh Bassi) and Kinchi (Monica Chaudhary). They have an instant connection, and ishq wala love happens. Micky is a family-oriented guy, and Tinny is an independent career-oriented girl who needs her own space and life. Only a breakup guru can help them part ways. But is it that simple after the families are involved and the couple is almost about to get engaged? Will they make the ultimate compromise in love and career?
The first half of the film lacks a clear direction and just keeps dragging in its mediocre writing. Micky and Tinny’s romance blossoms in the most absurd manner with some cheesy pickup lines that are unapologetically misogynist, but then when has Ranjan bothered about that. He does it in a way that you’d find half of the people in the theatre whistling and cheering on those lines. Even the girl has some problematic lines, like inviting the guy to literally ogle at her, or at least some may feel so. For the most part, the first half looks like Ranjan just picked a template out of Imtiaz Ali’s Tamasha, and replaced Deepika Padukone with Shraddha.
The second half opens up on a promising note, but in no time, the story turns predictable that you can almost guess it scene by scene. It’s only the last 30 minutes when the film truly redeems itself in the most hilarious, emotional, and genuinely funny way. It’s so entertaining that if Ranjan had stuck to that tone and pace from the beginning, “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar” would have been a near-perfect watch.
Throughout the film, humor is present, but jokes don’t always land perfectly. In fact, more than the main characters, it’s the people around them who have lines that trigger some genuine laughs with their dialogues. A master in monologue writing and making his actors say those in a breathless manner, Ranjan has taken it to another level this time. There are countless monologues, and almost everyone gets to say one, including Shraddha and Anubhav. As for the writing, the first hour seems like disjointed lines put together, not making much sense. Though later, some cleverly placed references of Alia Bhatt and some iconic family films are too good.
Shraddha Kapoor also delivers a decent performance, but her character lacks depth and substance. The chemistry between the two leads is enjoyable to watch, but it’s not enough to save the weak writing and clichéd plot.
Overall, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is a mixed bag. It has its moments of laughter and entertainment, but it’s weighed down by a lackluster script and predictable storyline. The performances are decent, but they are not enough to elevate the film. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies and don’t mind clichés, you might enjoy this film. But for everyone else, it’s a forgettable watch.
In conclusion, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is a film that tries to balance between comedy and romance, but falls short in both areas. Director Luv Ranjan has done better work in the past, and this film feels like a step back for him. If you’re looking for a film with substance and originality, this is not the one for you. But if you’re in the mood for mindless entertainment and can overlook the flaws, give it a shot.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar Trailer