Joker
2012 · Directed by Shirish Kunder
Original language: Hindi
- science fiction
- comedy
The story
A NASA scientist who's trying to create a device to communicate with aliens visits a village filled with oddballs and crazy people.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated studio colour and busy, crowded village frames give this one a loud, cheerful look, with broad slapstick timing and lots of performers mugging for the camera. The mood is rowdy and warm rather than cool or moody: a comedy of chaotic exchanges, exaggerated reactions, and sudden musical numbers that break the pace and bring the energy back up. Its sound is brass-and-drum Bollywood pop, playful and bouncy, with a steady stream of voices and background bustle. Peril is played for laughs and stays light. The violence is minor and cartoonish, with no real gore, and any tension is quickly undercut by a gag. The overall register is goofy, sentimental, and upbeat, with a clear comic arc about an outsider and a community of eccentrics learning to get along. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a group watch where people want to laugh out loud, or a background film while doing something else. It is best for viewers who enjoy masala comedy, big personalities, and big musical set pieces, and who want something silly and gentle with nothing harrowing in it.
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