The Archies

I was quite apprehensive about this adaptation when it was announced, having already seen a adaptation of The Archies take the weirdest route possible (read Riverdale TV Series). But Zoya Akthar is a filmmaker you can trust and The Archies is proof of that. This was a film that could have gone the Student of the Year way but it does well by honouring the source material and giving us one of our first **** in the 60s, the students of Riverdale High band together to save their beloved Green Park from getting destroyed. The casting of all the lead characters are spot-on. Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan as the famed trio of Archie, Betty and Veronica are perfect. Especially Khushi's Betty. So are Ethel, Reggie & Dilton played by effectively by .Dot, Vedang Raina & Yuvraj Menda. Mihir Ahuja's Jughead isn't a perfect fit but I liked their spin on the character. And it doesn't seem for a minute that the leads are in their debut feature. The only problem I had with the casting was with Moose. They reduced him to a dumb guy and that's **** songs are beautiful, each and every one. They all make sense in the narrative of the movie. All the songs help take the story forward. I especially loved Sunoh, In Raahon Mein, Plum Pudding and Everything is Politics. The songs add to the runtime, which is the only other issue I had with the film. Zoya Akhtar & Reema Kagti adapt the world of the Archies & contextualise it to India in a near perfect way. Though many viewers may find it hard to digest (because they cannot see beyond the N word), this adaptation is well done and has been the director's toughest assignment yet. Do give The Archies a try. Fans of the comics will enjoy the casting & the tone of the film. Kudos to the makers for attempting this!

Not worth your time. I wish I could get 2 hours of my life back. I genuinely tried to like it, but it was bore. Major snooze fest.