Movie review 'Romeo Juliet': The impressive acting makes it bittersweet in taste

Romeo Juliet is in parts a comedy, some amounts of seriousness, and a dash of the theatrical fused into one. The movie is directed by debutant Lakshman, and stars Jayam Ravi and Hansika as the leads in a love-hate relationship. With a host of side characters to distract the lovers from their trust and understanding of their connection, there are a number of scenes that disperses just when it threatens to entertain – possibly owing to drama that is more suited for the stage.

In Romeo Juliet, Aishwarya (Hansika) and Karthik (Jeyam Ravi) are lovers. Initially, Aishu is in love with money, whereas Karthik loves her for whatever she is – including all her imperfections. He seeks emotional satisfaction, but when Aishu finds out that Karthik is no rich man and is instead a trainer at a gym, she leaves him cold and down in the dumps. The movie then transitions into a tit-for-tat phase, where barbs and rebukes are traded. They both find other partners, but something always seems amiss: neither of them could bring peace to their restless hearts and minds. In not understanding their attraction for each other and the things they actually want in life, the director has used one of the oldest of psychological themes to highlight this point: denial. And with denial, we could either have a further deterioration where the ego erodes ethos, or an understanding of the situation in a different light, effecting real change in behaviors. Both Karthik and Aishu display plenty of the former, followed by a resurgent hopefulness that encompasses all other aspects that goes into a loving relationship.

The problems with Romeo Juliet start early. The characters seem to operate on mood swings and have only traces of reason and rationality. Yes, there are strong emotions involved, but that doesn’t mean that Aishu and Karthik have jump from one extreme to another. In doing so, the drama feels a little forced and henceforth, stripped of its theatrical power. On the plus side, this does bring out an on-screen chemistry that is fresh in its own way.

The focus of the movie is pretty much on Hansika and Jayam Ravi. Jayam Ravi on the other hand sets out to defy male stereotypes by refusing to bottle up his emotions and instead, lets them rip. He cries, he moans, he gets all loving and tender, and being a trainer has also made him physically brave. It’s a pity that some of these emotional transitions have been handled without much scruple in the script. Hansika as the Juliet looks attractive, moves with flair, and explains her state of mind just through her attitudes. She is bold, but could also do the shy bits, as and when the script demands. Vamsi Krishna and Poonam Bajwa look like set props.

Romeo Juliet will bring out mixed feelings in you. At times, the film seems to be at a cusp of unleashing a tide of comedy and drama that have timing, sensibility, and peak experiences. But something goes astray in the execution, and what we’re often left with are thwarted hope and melodramatic love scenes. Cinematographer Soundar Rajan has done a decent job in capturing the posh and luxurious sides of Chennai and music by Imman and dance team have provided us with refreshing entertainment.

Given the inconsistent quality of content, the impressive acting of Romeo Juliet makes it bittersweet in taste.