Duplicate (1998)
8/10
Hilarious and enjoyable !
11 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Shah Rukh really excels in this movie, performing a double role , two entirely different personalities. Babloo, a goofing type of an innocent mama's boy, whom he calls Bebe , and loves her too much ; though a little straightforward in his dealings, he has a talent for preparing gastronomical delights in a jiffy. that brings him in contact with Juhi, a sophisticated girl, holding a responsible position in a reputed hotel. Both fall in love with each other. much to the annoyance of Ravi, who has his eyes on beautiful Juhi. And the the plot line takes some twists and turns, by bringing Mannudada in the picture , an exact look alike of Babloo !

Though the viewers can predict the simple plot line, they don't mind it, because of the perfect cast, including sizzling Sonali Bendre, who actually loves Mannu.

The touch of the director could be seen in all those hilarious situations, which are handled superbly, with a naughty , naughty little actions, which we hardly see in Indian cinema. Sonali pinching Babloo's butt, John Travolta style, from Face\off , or Mannu getting too fresh with Juhi ! Musical score and especially the choreography, as well as the trio's delivery, and efforts at mixing romance, sex, and comedy, rolled in one, gives this movie a different dimension altogether, which is rarely seen in all those familiar dance numbers, which are many a times prompting the viewers to take breaks, for getting rid of the boredom. This is a slap-stick comedy, so the events are not to be taken seriously as such. i am a an ardent fan of Shah Rukh, and feel that he has done even better in his role as Babloo, which reminds us of Dilip kumar, who inspires him, and also his hit movie, Ram aur Shyam, which was a feather in Dilip's cap, who was known as the tragedy king till then . Comparison with Amitabh , though not necessary, is some what inevitable, and i would vote for Shah Rukh and Dilip, who carry of the romantic situations equally well. and yes, Mannudada dressed as a vamp, with boa and all, is another rare sight, because so far, we had all those Govindas and Rishis, who are chick looking, but i must say, Khan looks a little odd, yet o.k. for a confusing situation , with that maestro Gulshan bathing with the rose petals in a jacuzzi ! the only weak point is Juhi's accent, and dialog delivery, which is not her usual, and seems a little strange, yet not too objectionable. i wonder why this movie kind of flopped at the box, in spite of it's entertainment value. But i don't care, i just enjoy those situations, the numbers, and naturally funny comedy, and think, you might also feel the same, even after a gap of some years ! in fact, it's quite advanced for the period, so still fresh !
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