Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 46

‘Be Happy’ Is a Formulaic Drag, But Inayat & Abhishek Score

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

This could’ve been a breezy-fun dance movie about a father-daughter duo fighting and bonding over the daughter’s ambition to become a dancing star by participating in a reality TV competition for kids. Instead, it turns into a formulaic ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ for dancers, without the memorable songs and romance.

Directed by Remo D’Souza, ‘Be Happy’ is powered by Inayat Sharma as protagonist Dhara, a cute little firecracker with terrible grades at school, who must convince her cynical widower dad Shiv (Abhishek Bachchan) to move to Mumbai, so that she can fulfill her dream of dancing on India’s biggest dance reality show. Actor Nassar plays Dhara’s banker grandfather, who is her biggest cheerleader, while Nora Fatehi plays Maggie, Dhara’s inspiration and dance trainer. And in a contrived sub-plot, Maggie also becomes Shiv’s potential romantic interest.

Inayat Sharma is adorable and energetically entertaining as Dhara; however, her character’s dialogues feel too mature for a preteen girl. It seems like you could replace her with a college-going character, and the script wouldn’t need much adjustment. The writers should have focused more on making Dhara’s character convincing as a child, rather than relying on pop-culture jokes that aren’t even funny. For instance, when Dhara struggles to convince her dad, Shiv, to let her participate in a dance competition, she angrily quips that Thanos probably has a bigger heart. But, seriously – Thanos literally sacrificed his daughter for power. Besides, shouldn’t a Gen Alpha kid like her be making references to Demon Slayer or Spy X Family instead?

Abhishek Bachchan’s character, Shiv, is portrayed with a more realistic approach. His concerns about his daughter’s fascination with dancing over focusing on her studies are highly relatable. Like many Indian parents, Shiv wants Dhara to prioritize academics, achieve excellent grades, and view dancing as a hobby rather than a serious pursuit. He is flat out mean to dancer Maggie in their first encounter since she encourages Dhara to come to Mumbai. Now, Nora Fatehi (she plays Maggie) is a fabulous dancer, there’s no doubt about that, but her acting skills continue to be questionable and there’s little improvement in her delivery since ‘Madgaon Express’.

After the first 30 minutes, Be Happy begins to heavily focus on dancing. While much of the choreography is impressive, it soon becomes repetitive and monotonous. Dhara’s musical portions feel less about dancing and more about cartwheels and aerobics. Sanchit Chanana, who plays Prem, another child dancer training under Maggie, stands out in his brief dance sequences, which feature elements like breakdancing, locking, and popping. The reality TV section is done convincingly, given that the director has extensive experience working in that world. However, the rest of the story falls apart in the second-half.

Instead of stretching this dance-drama to over two hours, the creators should have made a crisp 90-minute film focused on a dad and daughter living their best life after moving to Mumbai, and Be Happy could have been so much more entertaining. Instead, the movie tries to be an inspirational tear-jerker, that becomes hard to watch toward the end and might induce tears of regret in some viewers. But brownie points to Inayat Sharma and Abhishek Bachchan for putting their best foot forward.

Rating: 2 on 5 stars. ‘Be Happy’ is on Prime Video.

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Baban Baban Ban Vampire Episode 10 Review

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Excuse us…?! What was that dark cliffhanger in Baban Baban Ban Vampire Episode 9?

A new vampire pierces a sword through Sakamoto in a dark corridor somewhere. Is our vampire hunter going to die so soon? Are we getting no context? Who is this new vampire anyway? So many questions are running through our heads (well, not for those who’ve already read the manga)!

Titled “Mr. Sakamoto and the Vampire,” Episode 10 of Baban Baban Ban Vampire answers almost all the questions left by the tense climax of the previous chapter. For instance, we finally learn the new vampire’s name—Nagayoshi, a bloodthirsty supernatural being determined to eliminate all vampire hunters. That’s why he targets Rihito’s teacher, Sakamoto. But that’s not all; it turns out Nagayoshi also shares a long history with protagonist Ranmaru Mori.

This episode dives into the details of what really happened the night Mr. Sakamoto was attacked by Nagayoshi, before shifting focus to the aftermath. While Nagayoshi’s character design paints him as a blonde bad boy, the animation of his movements in this episode was quite distracting – and not in a good way.

Overall, it’s a mildly entertaining episode with some unexpected twists in the final moments, including historical flashbacks that reveal the connection between Ranmaru and the new vampire villain.

Watch Baban Baban Ban Vampire on Netflix.

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The Fisherman’s Wife: Short Horror Film Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

What would you do if you discovered a mermaid trapped in a net by the sea?

Directed and written by Jared Watson, ‘The Fisherman’s Wife’ is an offbeat horror short film about a fisherman and his uncanny encounter with a mermaid. What happens next, is completely unexpected.

Only about eight minutes long, the film opens on a dreary note, set in a dusty, yellowed seaside town where a lonely fisherman (T. Ryder Smith) examines his catch for the day. But as he walks along the shore, he stumbles upon a beautiful mermaid, gasping for breath. He does what most men might do – he takes her home.

Even before anything happens, just seeing the two of them together, a helpless female creature and a seemingly asocial man, was scary enough as a female viewer. The scenario is tense, and you know there are so many ways things could go wrong. So with that dark, depressing start, I wasn’t expecting to laugh out loud at the end. There are only three lines of dialogue in the film, but the last line is ridiculously hilarious, even though it’s delivered in a deadpan, matter-of-fact, “I really mean it” tone. The climax is morbidly dark and comedic. You’ll just not see the twist coming.

Basically, ‘The Fisherman’s Wife’ is a weird little horror film, with lots of symbolic meanings (if you really must draw some deeper messages), but with the kind of ending that could really divide viewers. If you end up laughing at the climax too, you’ll probably look upon it favorably. It’s less than ten minutes long, it’s available on YouTube (at least at the time of writing this review), so maybe check it out.

Rating: 3 on 5.

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Sakamoto Days Episode 10 Review: Baths, Bullies, New Enemies

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“Knowing when you can rest, so you can stay at your best is part of being first class”

This is already my favorite quote from Sakamoto Days, uttered by the legendary hitman protagonist, Taro Sakamoto. Kinda makes me want to take this Saturday off and relax too, but, oh well, I’ll rest later.

Titled “Bathhouse Roughhouse,” episode 10 of the anime begins with Shin complaining about how exhausted he is after their fight at the laboratory with a whole bunch of new villains. So Taro, the boss-man, takes everybody to a bathhouse to relax and rejuvenate. It’s a family day out! But, of course, Taro and his team always seem to attract assassins, so even at the bathhouse, someone recognizes the retired hitman from his bounty posters. We all know what’s going to happen next.

Instead of direct combat or battles like in episode 9, this edition of Sakamoto Days features more ingenious and silly methods used by a new amateur hitman to kill our protagonist. It’s a comedic episode, with Sakamoto and Shin trying different things at the bathhouse, all of which are tweaked to cause maximum discomfort. The second half of the episode, however, shifts focus to a new subplot about some mafia men looking for Lu.

This was a pretty hilarious episode, and for the first time, I’m really starting to appreciate Nobunaga Shimazaki’s voice acting for Shin. He does an excellent job capturing the various moods of the mind-reader, especially in a little scene where Shin shivers with excitement after he takes a dip in a ‘high power jet bath’. Sakamoto doesn’t do much, but gets to be an invincible God chilling in water, while an enemy tries all sorts of tricks to annihilate him.

Honestly, after watching enough of Sakamoto Days, I’m starting to think that maybe all the hate the anime is getting on social media is undeserved, especially since the last few episodes (including this one) were pretty fun. But I haven’t read the original manga, so I obviously cannot objectively judge how different the anime is from the manga! I suppose non-readers like me can quietly enjoy the advantage of not feeling disappointed by the changes the creators have made in the anime adaptation.

You can watch the series on Netflix or Crunchyroll.

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Jamie Lee Curtis & Lindsay Lohan Back in Freakier Friday For Twice The Fun?!

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“My face looks like a birkin bag that’s been left out in the sun to rot!”

Jamie Lee Curtis’ character hilariously squeals in the trailer for Freakier Friday, the very belated sequel to the 2003 body-swap comedy Freaky Friday. Both Jamie and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles as mother and daughter, Tess and Anna Coleman, who once again wake up in each other’s bodies after several years. But this time, the swap extends to Tess’ granddaughter and a friend!

Honestly, who would’ve thought we’d actually get a sequel after so many years? But the teaser trailer for Freakier Friday looks like a lot of fun. The 2023 Netflix comedy Family Switch recently explored the whole family-swap concept, with six family members (including the pet dog) switching bodies. In Freakier Friday, it’s four women: Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis), Anna (Lindsay Lohan), Anna’s daughter Harper (Julia Butters), and Lily (Sophia Hammons), the daughter of Anna’s new boyfriend. So Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are set to play Gen-Z girls!

The trailer promises another fun family comedy filled with chaos, and laughs. ‘Freakier Friday’ is going to release in theaters on August 8. Watch the trailer on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

The Plastic Men Review: PTSD, Paranoia, Missed Connections

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972, the same day I resolved to kill myself.”

Inspired by a stirring Craigslist ad for “missed connections” posted by a Vietnam veteran in 2015, the 2025 psychological war drama/horror The Plastic Men delves into the terrors of severe PTSD and how one man is saved from the clutches of death by an unexpected New Year’s Eve encounter.

Written and directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr., The Plastic Men stars James Preston as the primary protagonist, Johnathan Teller, introduced as a young man on a road trip with a friend that goes horribly wrong. The fallout from this incident leads to Johnathan’s conscription into the Vietnam War, which leaves him with haunting mental scars. William Fichtner serves as the narrator of the tale, recalling Johnathan’s struggles with guilt, trauma, nightmares, delusions, and terrifying visions post-war.​

The opening minutes are a little dissonant with the rest of the plot of The Plastic Men, so the story becomes interesting only once Johnathan begins recalling the horrors of the Vietnam War. James Preston captures the different phases and facets of the tormented protagonist with a gusto that makes you feel like you are watching three different people in the film.

We first meet Johnathan as a clean-cut, happy, if mildly anxious young man, horsing around with an obnoxious friend as they drive across Mexico, yet to be tainted by war crimes. Next, he returns from Vietnam, an exhausted, haunted veteran, taking up a job at a convenience store, which becomes a playground for his PTSD-induced hallucinations. He is lonely, friendless, disturbed, deranged, and mentally troubled. It’s only in the climactic moments that Johnathan lights up as a charming young man capable of love, romance, and tenderness – when he meets a woman who catches his attention.

The film incorporates numerous special effects, especially during the blurry flashbacks of Johnathan’s experiences, but their effectiveness varies. In some scenes, the effects appear garish; for instance, when a tormented Johnathan envisions a grotesque figure of a deceased friend, it’s evident the actor is wearing prosthetics, diminishing the intended horror. Conversely, certain transitions are executed exceptionally well. For instance, in one scene, Johnathan enters a room that seamlessly transforms into the Vietnamese wilderness. In another, cracks in the ceiling evoke memories of wartime turbulence.

Johnathan’s war experiences are glimpsed briefly in generic flashbacks, or through the narrator’s words, the viewers get to see more of the after-effects on his mind, leaving you with several questions. And while the primarily motive of ‘The Plastic Men’ seems to explore the dehumanization of soldiers in wars, where they are reduced to mere statistics, you cannot help wonder if Johnathan deserves what he is going through.

There’s a section in the second-half of the film where Johnathan goes to a suicide-prevention group for Vietnam veterans, and those scenes are gratingly chaotic. The veterans are violent, aggressive, off their rails, and all that anger feels more cosmetic than organic. Melanie Martyn portrays Judy, the young woman Jonathan meets near the film’s climax. The Plastic Men excels during the fleeting romantic encounter between Jonathan and Judy, which is preceded by an intense breakdown that nearly ends in tragedy.

James Preston carries this film with an emotional, angst ridden performance, that culminates in an emotional climax of an older Johnathan reminiscing his past while typing out the Craiglist ad this film is inspired by. If you like indie movies, ‘The Plastic Men’ might be a title worth exploring.

Rating: 6 on 10.

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The Lilo & Stitch Trailer Is Nostalgia & Chaos Come to Life!

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OMG-OMG-OMG!

If you’re a big Lilo & Stitch fan and loved the animated movies and everything that followed, the trailer for the live-action movie looks pretty solid!

It kicks off with chaos as Stitch—the adorable blue furball who looks like a super-cute plushie in the live-action—escapes an alien facility and heads straight for Earth. There, he meets Lilo, a young girl played by newcomer Maia Kealoha, who instantly decides to make the troublemaker her friend while alien police hunt for him. But will her older sister allow little Lilo to keep her new impish buddy? Obviously, because – “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”

From the trailer, it’s clear that Maia Kealoha captures Lilo’s innocent yet feisty spirit, though she does seem just a little on the shy side. Maybe Stitch isn’t as fluffy as the animated version, but the character design is still very accurate, super-cute and blends well into the real world. Sydney Agudong plays Lilo’s loving, protective, and hard-working older sister, Nani. Unlike the animated version, the resemblance between the live-action sisters is a bit threadbare.

Regardless, the trailer is fun, entertaining, and promises a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It might even be more enjoyable for viewers unfamiliar with the older films, as they won’t have the same expectations longtime fans carry.

The film is set to release in theaters on May 23. Watch the trailer on YouTube! It’s also embedded below.

Budding Crisis Issue #3 Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The first few pages of Budding Crisis issue #3 had me confused, as they introduced entirely new characters with no familiar faces from the previous two chapters. However, the second half finally brings in an older character, satisfactorily connecting the new faces with the story so far. (Although there’s no news about the arrogant senior soldier who was turned into a snake in issue #1… and there may never be!)

Titled “The Saviors,” issue #3 is set in the town of Blaueswunder, where two friends are on the hunt for magical, wish-granting seeds. They enlist the help of an old classmate who is an expert on the subject, secure a few sponsors, and embark on a year-long search for the mysterious Onamanthe plants that bear the coveted seeds. Petra, one of the primary characters from issue #2, reappears, offering guidance and a deal to the new explorers.

Thanks to the defined agenda (finding the magic seeds) this chapter turned out to be the most engaging issue in the comic series so far, thrusting readers further into this magical historical fiction world of soldiers, looters, keepers, and explorers. Budding Crisis now follows this new trio and their near-impossible expedition to locate the legendary plants. If they succeed, it would be a game-changer, as the seeds are believed to be nearly extinct.

Budding Crisis is proving to be the kind of comic book series where readers simply need to move past the previous chapter. Each installment focuses on different characters, with the primary theme remaining the elusive wish-granting seeds and how they affect the lives of different seekers. The artwork, as always, is colorfully engaging and stood out even more this time due to the trio’s turbulent adventures into the wild.

Rating: 4 on 5. ‘Budding Crisis’ is on Kindle Unlimited.

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My Golden Blood Ep 1 Review: Joss, Gavin Bring the Sparks

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In a fresh pairing from GMMTV, Fluke Gawin Caskey plays Tong, a college fresher who ends up in a forbidden romance with Mark Amarittrakul, a wealthy, powerful vampire portrayed by Joss Way-ar Sangngern, in the 2025 Thai series My Golden Blood.

Directed by Ark Saroj Kunatanad, the series is based on the novel of the same name by Dawin. Episode one begins with a flashback scene of vampires brutally murdering a family, leaving only a baby survivor. Viewers are thus introduced to Tong (Gawin Caskey), an orphan raised to believe he has a rare blood disorder, while the truth is far more dangerous.

When Tong moves to Bangkok for college and takes up a part-time job, he crosses paths with the handsome and wealthy Mark (Joss Way-ar Sangngern) and learns he possesses a rare type of blood coveted by vampires for power. Mark, a vampire himself, makes it his mission to shelter and protect Tong so that his blood doesn’t land in the wrong hands. But can Mark resist the temptation of taking a bite himself?

Episode one of My Golden Blood quickly establishes itself as a guilty-pleasure watch for fans seeking a vampire romance with good-looking leads. The minimal special effects in the vampire scenes are already dubious, but one thing is unquestionable – the onscreen chemistry between Gawin Caskey and Joss Way-ar Sangngern as Tong and Mark. This fresh pairing is looking super promising.

In their first meeting, Mark gets the classic swimming pool shot, emerging like a hot, half-naked merman from his hotel pool, while Tong, working part-time at the venue, nearly drools at the view. And the drooling is completely justified. If GMMTV ever decides to make a saucy, queer Thai version of Twilight, the executives should simply hire this pair.

Mond Tanutchai Wijitvongtong plays antagonist Nakan, Mark’s cousin, and a powerful businessman hunting for Tong’s Golden Blood. Mond does have the “bad guy” persona, though perhaps a slightly older actor would have been more apt for the role. Still, it’s too soon to judge how good (or evil) he’ll be as the principal antagonist. Someone more dangerous, of course, could be introduced in the next few episodes.

In episode one, Tong is instantly attracted to Mark, but they get off on the wrong foot – Mark practically assaults him right before saving him from being drained dry by Nakan. At the moment, Tong is confused about whether he should trust this new vampire, but the sexual tension between them continues. Check out the series if you’re looking for a queer vampire fantasy and don’t mind the cheap VFX.

‘My Golden Blood’ is on YouTube & iQIYI.

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The Brightest Star: Short Film Review

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What a precious little film… if only the animation could’ve been better!

Directed and written by Tuomas Tuppurainen, The Brightest Star is a seven-minute short film about a little girl named Sophie, who falls into a cave and encounters a magical spirit. Is it malevolent or benevolent? Sophie finds out soon enough.

The Brightest Star starts off as an innocent tale about a child’s curiosity, taking a dark, fantastical turn when Sophie falls into a pit and encounters a figure that is clearly rooted in Nordic mythology. Those familiar with Nordic myths will quickly grasp the subtle metaphors woven throughout the film, accompanied by beautiful piano flourishes in the background.

While the animation for the mythical spirit is interesting and foreboding, the character design for Sophie sticks out like a sore thumb. Her design is very basic—almost as if she stepped out of a pixelated game from the 1990s—while the background artwork is far more detailed. So, even though Sophie is the central figure in this mystical tale about life, childhood, and loss, her rudimentary design breaks the illusion of fantasy in The Brightest Star.

Regardless, given its themes and excellent musical score, this is a unique little film that ends on an unexpectedly bittersweet note.

Rating: 3 on 5. You can watch the film on YouTube.

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