Mohenjodaro **

Dir:  Ashutosh Gowariker

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Pooja Hegde, Kabir Bedi, Arunoday Singh, Suhasini Mulay, Manish Choudhary

Mohenjodaro comes from writer/director Ashutosh Gowarikar, the man behind such movies as Lagaan and Swades, and that adds to the disappointment. Gowarikar is certainly aiming high here - there are elements of both Gladiator and Ten Commandments present (our hero returns to his people to not only engage in gladiatorial combat, romance a priestess, take down an evil ruler and lead his people to safety across a raging river) - but the plot is hackneyed, the special effects are dodgy (Hrithik Roshan’s opening battle with a rubber crocodile is cringe-worthy) and the characterisation sketchy. The high fantasy concept never really takes off (unlike, say, Baahubali), historical veracity is doubtful (there is no particular reason for the movie to be based in prehistoric Mohenjodaro) and the action scenes are more laughable than exciting.

The cast is game - Hrithik is clearly giving it his all and newcomer Pooja Hegde (you may recognise her from that ubiquitous Fair & Lovely ad) is fetching - but has little to work with. Even A.R. Rahman’s score isn’t particularly memorable. This one had the potential to be quite something but it’s just a mess.

Cut to chase: Mohejodaro lies in ruins.

 

Bad Moms *** ½

Dir:  Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Starring: Mila Kunis, Christina Applegate, Jessica Hahn, Kristen Bell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annie Mumolo

Amy (Mila Kunis) is stretched to the limit in living up to expectations and juggling work, marriage, and children. One day she finally has had enough and decides to kick back and indulge herself along with two other truant mothers – stressed-out and overwhelmed mom of four, Kiki (Kristen Bell) and foul-mouthed and horny Carla (Kathryn Hahn) - while also taking on the mean momsters of the PTA, Gwendolyn (Christina Applegate), Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo.

Writers/directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore mine enough laughs out of the basic premise to keep you entertained for the movie’s 90 minutes run-time even if the plot becomes a bit more conventional as it goes along.

There are plenty of bawdy moments here (which is to be expected from the writers of The Hangover) but the humour never becomes gross and the moms never really do too much terrible things either. Still, it is fun to see the ladies having fun on screen and the entire cast delivers. Kunis, Applegate and Bell are well-known and also recognised for their comedic skills but Bad Moms could just prove to be a breakthrough for the scene-stealing Kathryn Hahn (hitherto a familiar face but not name) much like Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids. Hahn has material to play with here and she doesn’t let the opportunity go to waste, wringing laughs and delivering (crude) zingers with perfect comedic timing.

Cut to chase: This one isn’t bad at all.

Kmumtaz1@hotmail.com; Twitter: @KhusroMumtaz