The production values are top-notch, but that's actually part of the problem. India's slums are glossed with ultra-saturated coloring. The scenes of terrible poverty cannot resonate deeply because the editing is too fast-paced. The film is like an extended music video: mostly flash, and with little character development. The "love conquers all" theme has certainly pleased crowds the world over, but the story rang hollow with me. The soundtrack does little to help -- it is a crass fusion of East and West. But Dev Patel is a beacon of light in the midst of disappointment. He shines in the lead role as a tender-hearted striver. Too bad about the rest.
Written 6/13/09
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