Boxoffice.com
The Good:
The screenplay is cleverly constructed to include everything possible that will entertain the audience without them losing interest in the story because there is nothing new in terms of story. What Kunal Kohli achieves is a very simple but engaging style of story telling. The screenplay is not taxing and has, just like the title says Thoda Pyar, Thoda Magic and whole lot of Masti. The masti is provided by the four kids who are the life and soul of the film. Especially the kid playing the role of a Sikh. He will bring a smile to your face every time he comes on screen because he is so endearing. Kunal Kohli along with Rohena Gera has scripted a film that entertains, sometimes preaches, sometimes educates & has a very clean heart & soul. Saif & Rani provide able support to the film. They have nothing new to explore in terms of their roles. Ameesha Patel in a short & sweet tailor made role provides the right dose of humor. She has never looked as Hot as she looks in the song Lazy Lamhe. The choreography of all the songs lift an above average music score by Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy to a visual delight of Animation and some good CGI. The background score by Sandeep Chowta complements each and every scene. He has used the song Pyar ke liye at all the right moments in the film.
The Bad:
If the script wouldn’t have been predictable this would have become a much better film. The gags are not original & the script seems to be heavily inspired by a lot of films like Mary Popppins, The Sound of Music, Lemony Snicket, Bruce Almighty, Nanny Mcphee etc. It is not something that will change the face of Indian cinema. It is like today’s version of Gulzar’s Parichay which in turn was an adaptation of Sound of Music. It seems we are going round and round in search of stories to tell.
The Ugly:
Nothing really, except the portrayal of Americans in one of the scenes of the film. I mean we don’t have to pull another country down to show that we are superior.
Final Few Words:
It is an ideal film to take your kids to & for you to become a child again. In this age of violent cartoons & mindless video games this is the right film for your kids because it is an edutainment film which gives out a very clear message that is “All you need is love”. A sure shot hit at the theatres and on the DVD circuit whenever it releases.
India Fm
Saif fits into the sauve millionaire part [Richie Rich - the poor little rich guy?] very well. And the best part is, he never 'acts'. He's a complete natural! It's a pleasure to watch Rani in a role that does justice to her talent. She's lovable. But why is she sporting the same outfit throughout? Ameesha doesn't work, mainly because her role looks like an add-on. And what is she wearing throughout the movie? But she sizzles in the 'Lazy Lamhe' track.
The four kids are adorable. Each of them is terrific, but the one who's bound to walk away with taalis is the cute Sikh kid called Iqbal. Watch him break into the 'Main Nikla Gadi Leke' song from GADAR; it's bound to bring the house down. Rishi Kapoor is likable in a cameo. Taraana is okay.
On the whole, THODA PYAAR THODA MAGIC is a simple story told very effectively and efficiently. At the box-office, it may be a slow starter, but should gradually gather momentum with a strong word of mouth. Business at multiplexes will be the best.
Go watch it, it's a treat for your entire family!
Critic Rating:
Kunal Kohli turns his attention from seemingly adult tales -- Hum Tum, Fanaa -- to a desification of Mary Poppins. And like his earlier films, he displays a strong hold on the medium, despite shifting gears to sentimental family drama. Saif's good, Rani's commendable, but the show stealers are the babalog who carry the emotional parts to near-perfection on their frail shoulders. Truly, it's the age of WHIZ KID in Indian cinema!
Hindustan Times
Rating: **
Woof. A wonder dog refuses to eat non-veg on Tuesdays. Oof. Amidst fluffy clouds, angel girls toss their beauty parlour curls. And in a mega-museum, a geeky guard flies across the stratosphere on a broom. Zoom barabar zoom.
That’s director Kunal Kohli’s Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic or Thodi Mary Thodi Poppins. Indeed, this purported mad-in-India fantasy has as much subtlety and grace as a carpenter’s hathoda. Plus, it makes you wonder for whom this was produced and why-why-why. Kids have access to far more sophisticated special effects fun flicks and the adults.. well.. what are they taken for? Nitwits?
Indeed, the 16-reeler incites you to email a petition to God – depicted here as a jolly-ho Rishi Kapoor garbed in vanilla white. He even breaks into an aao-twist-karen jigaloo. You want to address 10 questions to the supreme power in white:
One: Sir, why did you select Rani ‘Angel’ Mukherji to solve the dilemma of an ultra-wealthy man (Saif Ali Khan)? Surely, the suited-booted-necktied man could have handled four orphaned kids himself -- with the help of his ditzy girlfriend (Ameesha Patel, ewww).. whose clothes looked spray-painted on her. Surely the poor, the inflation-hit and the ailing needed the services of Angel Rani much more urgently.
Two: Lord, how did you ever create a judge like Sharat Saxena and give him such extra-constitutional powers?
Milord Sharat decrees that Suited-Booted must look after the orphans since he mowed down their parents in a car accident.. and then just glared, glared, glared. This ‘punishment’ lets Suited off the hook. He’s even back on the phone to strike a deal in Los Angeles. Come, come, now.
Three: Why did the tempo drag so much that you nearly fell asleep on the shoulder of a stranger in the next seat?
Scary.
Four: Why were none of the kids adorable?
When children ham, haw-haw and make those we’re-so-cute-faces before the camera, talk like mini-Amartya-Sens, your murderous instincts are aroused. Not done.
Five: Whatever happened to that fine actress called Rani Mukherji?
After Black, she’s been belting out black-out-from-the-memory performances. As a Geeta Poppins, she’s one-dimensional, either darting full blast smiles or tetchy scowls. Her costumes, too, are uneasy-on-the-eyes.
Six: Whatever happened to that likeable actor called Saif Ali Khan?
Sure, he’s supposed to play a humourless guy but he’s as stiff as starch.
Seven: Lord, why allow a weird tribute to old Chalti ka Naam Gaadi type of songs?
The car song medley’s a clever concept, but botched up. Also, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy seem to be into a bad tune day. Prasoon Joshi’s lyric referring to a “chand” kept in a “tiffin”, indicates a Gulzarish moon obsession. One moon man is enough.
Eight: Sire, why doesn’t the direction keep one engrossed at all?
The Forrrest Gump-style morphing and animated interludes aren’t exactly fresh. The LA scene with an irate American businessman is a riot.
Nine: Lord, whatever made the legendary Razzak Khan, portraying a valet, look at a rose and then say, “Shakespeare!” Very unusual that but much too bard, very bard.
Ten: Would you, lord, impel viewers to see Thoda L Thoda M?
If you do, I’ll lose faith in you.
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