PremiumWild Wild Punjab review: Varun Sharma and Manjot Singh-starrer is a dull detour than thrilling adventure
Wild Wild Punjab is a misguided adventure through stereotypes and predictable tropes.
Last Updated: 12.53 PM, Jul 10, 2024
In order to get even with their friend's split, a gang of inebriated young men decides to disrupt his ex-girlfriend's wedding. A daring and spontaneous idea for a "breakup trip" takes flight, ushering in unexpected escapades in this bewildering country known as "Wild Wild Punjab!"
A group of boys embarking on a purposeful trip ultimately leads to the realisation that nothing positive can emerge until the very end. We saw it in one of the hilarious films of this year, Madgaon Express, which marked the directorial debut of Kunal Kemmu, who himself starred in a similar film, Go Goa Gone, back in 2013. Netflix's latest offering, Wild Wild Punjab, takes the story away from Goa, showing the wild life in Punjab.
Simarpreet Singh, who previously helmed Half Love—Half Arranged, College Romance Season 1, and Chutzpah, directs Luv Ranjan's Wild Wild Punjab. With each man's immediate introduction and backstory (narrated by Rajkummar Rao), the film's less than two hours of running time gets right to the point.
Sunny Singh portrays Arora, a love cynic who has a penchant for falling in love with any girl who catches his eye. Jassie Gill portrays Jain, a character who endured a traumatic childhood due to an abusive father who denied him the freedom to live and believed his life should only follow his fear. Immediately after that, we see Khanna, played by Varun Sharma, who is the heartbroken lover. He witnesses his girlfriend cheating on him with their boss, and he can't deal with the heartbreak. Then comes Honey (Manjot Singh), a man with principles who would kill and die for his friends and his car, whom he fondly calls "Paro."
They all get together one fine night, just a few hours before Khanna's ex-girlfriend's wedding, and decide to go to Pathankhot to gatecrash and tell her, "I'm over you." However, we are aware that chaos will quickly ensue, especially since they are all intoxicated.
In essence, Wild Wild Punjab merely showcases Punjabi actors' presence in Punjab and their unwavering commitment to their mission. Of course, the film screams bromance, questioning even a borderline selfless person's loyalty and making him feel like a burden. Even when the circumstances don't support him, the film forces a timid person to open up and stand up for himself.
The film employs common tropes, but how can one incorporate women into the plot? Of course, there is betrayal. On one side, we see a drunken Jain marrying Patralekhaa's character Radha while saving her family from dowry. To counterbalance this, the creators introduce Ishita Raj Sharma as the female lead, a college-going drug dealer who uses the guys to reach her destination.
The film also includes references to the Hangover series, which is considered the origin of this particular genre. However, it felt like a forced attempt to bring the vibe of the Hollywood blockbuster, which doesn't work at all.
The entire state of Punjab exudes a stereotypical atmosphere, replete with gun ownership and constant drunkenness. Additionally, drugs are involved, and there's always one person who opposes it but gives in due to unforeseen circumstances.
When Luv Ranjan is involved in a film, it usually revolves around a character who is either getting over a girl, seeking revenge from his ex, or receiving unconditional support from his friends while pursuing these actions. Wild Wild Punjab delves deeply into the portrayal of men as victims and the unrestrained villainization of girls. This time, the portrayal of Patralekhaa's character is cheerful and joyful, both during her marriage to a stranger and her eager departure from home to travel with four men who, to be honest, exude an alcohol stench even on screen.
It simply repeats the typical unromantic phrase, "Jahaan piya, wahaan piya," as if it were a puppet. How can anyone fail to question the actions of the guy involved? Furthermore, if there are four guys involved, the situation is likely to escalate due to the use of toilet humour, which is utterly unfunny. It's imperative that we move past this so-called comedy.
Even the performances by the leading characters won't surprise you, as all of the actors have played these characters before and carry the same baggage with a different storyline. Despite portraying the characters as victims of their circumstances, you don't feel a strong emotional connection to any of them. Instead of resolving the issue, they merely amplify it in a way that is unreasonable and crass.
It's all Punjab, but there's nothing "wild" to be mentioned in the title twice.
Wild Wild Punjab promises a rollercoaster of bromantic escapades but delivers a wild ride to nowhere. While the film attempts to bring the Hangover vibe to Punjab, it gets lost in stereotypical portrayals and predictable tropes.