Creative Quotient
Rajkumar Santoshi returns with a comedy after Andaz Apna Apna and this time his hero Prem (Ranbir) is a school drop-out with a heart of gold. He is the president of Happy Club whose office bearers are mostly out-of-work boys living off their parents. Their aim is to unite lovers and spread happiness. During one such mission, the Happy Club encounters pretty Jenny(Katrina) mistaking her for a member’s girl-friend to be kidnapped. The ensuing confusion makes Jenny distrust Prem and Co. But eventually she learns about his noble mission and she ends up joining the club herself. Born an orphan, Jenny is mistreated by her adopted family and she finds an emotional anchor in the Happy Club. It transpires that both she and Prem stammer whenever they are upset. Just when it seems like the two are in love, Jenny reveals that she has a long-standing boy friend Rahul (Upen), the son of a Hindu fundamentalist politician’s (Govind Namdev) son. Jenny’s faith Christianity comes in the way of their union so the lovers must elope. Prem helps Jenny escape from an arranged marriage that her foster parents insist upon. The escape scene makes for some thrilling cinematic moments. The mad-cap comedy culminates with Jenny discovering her true love in Prem.

Like always, Santoshi is credited with original screenplay although parts of it are reminiscent of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The dialogues of the film are quick and catchy. Note the “look de rahe ho” line, it’s sure to catch on.

On the flipside, the story staggers at a slow pace in the first half and it picks pace only in the latter half.

Technical Expertise
Director Santoshi packs in enough cinematic moments to keep the simple story pulsating with excitement. Never mind if the chase sequence involving a motorbike and side car separating (a la Sholay) seems like a blast from the past, it works in totality. Ranbir Kapoor as the smooth talking boy-next-door is at his charming best in comic scenes where he dances away sans music just to impress Jenny or the emotional scene at the police station that has him steeling himself and confessing his love for Jenny. Fresh and appealing, he’s the new star on the block. Katrina Kaif, predictably has an anglicised role of Jenny which she essays with conviction. She not only looks stunningly stylish in the film but also pours her heart into her portrayal.

Pritam’s score is imminently hummable and Ahmed Khan’s choreography especially in the Prem ki nayya number enhances its impact. Shyamli Arora’s styling deserves a special mention as she lends snazzy look to the lead pair. Tinu Verma and Abbas Ali Moghul’s action sequences are mostly rivetting and Nitish Roy’s sets provide the requisite quaint backdrop to the film. Editor Steven Bernard’s cuts could have been sharper to make the story more engaging. But on the whole, it makes for one sweet date flick.