Enjoyable, but slightly overrated

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2008)

I was expecting something a little more gritty, less like an Indian retelling of Dickens, but as pure entertainment the film succeeds if you don't go in expecting Best Picture material. Alas, I see it is being hyped as just that... when in reality it's just a conventional rags-to-riches movie with an unusual setting (for American audiences). The social commentary in the screenplay is not particularly deep, although I suppose modern India's great contradictions can just stand for themselves. All of the child actors are very good, and Dev Patel is the discovery of the year. Old Bollywood hand Anil Kapoor also stands out as the game show host. Unfortunately the film just seems to run out of steam in the final 5-10 minutes (the resolution of the quiz show final question and also of Latika's situation are rather flat) and apparently Danny Boyle did not know how else to finish the film except with way too many gooey flashbacks and a big rousing Bollywood dance number. Fun, but tacked on. Not enough to spoil the film however. Not a bad way to spend two hours.