Movie Review - Highway ( A Journey into Boredom)

Movie – Highway

Cast: Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt

Directed by: Imtiaz Ali

Produced by: Sajid Nadiadwala

Cinematography: Anil Mehta

Music: A.R. Rahman

Editing: Aarti Bajaj

Rating : 2.5/5

Review 

I know this movie is getting some rave reviews and quite a few people are praising it. But, I found the movie to have too many flaws and the pace of the movie was slow. The focus was more on the scenery than the character building. There were more scenes focusing on the landscape than dialogues or interactions between the actors. 

Chemistry not that great

Let’s talk about the story first, the story is about a girl you can call her a princess from an affluent and influential Delhi Family Veera Triparhi ( Alia Bhatt) getting kidnapped by a brazen and rough Gujjar Criminal  Mahabir Bhatti (Randeep Hooda).  The movie is dealing with the classic case of the Stockholm Syndrome, where the hostage forms an emotional bond with the kidnapper. But the way it’s dealt with has left me disappointed.  This film is trying to portray the journey of two damaged souls healing each other as they travel around the country.

As I have mentioned earlier there was lack of proper interaction between the actors, it has resulted in the chemistry just not happening. Veera’s transformation from a hapless victim to the enthusiastic co-traveler is unconvincing. The catalyst which draws them closer, the dark secrets of the past, though strong, seem portrayed in a too casual sort of a way to actually help them connect.  

 Overall, if you ask me the way the movie has dealt with the emotions is not that great. This is an Imtiaz Ali Flick, I really loved the way he dealt with emotions in Rockstar. Highway doesn’t even come close. In fact, this Highway just goes on and on and manages to bore you.  

Acting, Randeep Hooda is amazing and this could be a huge comeback movie for him. Alia Bhatt manages to impress and the monologue she delivers at the end of the film is brilliant. The cinematography by Anil Mehta is good and very scenic.  This movie is good in patches and disappointing overall. Should you watch this film, well you can , but don’t expect it to entertain.