The Archies review: A shallow symphony of star kids and missed opportunities

"My dad will pay for it," says Veronica Lodge, essayed by 23-year-old Suhana Khan, roughly 18 minutes into The Archies. The line is delivered during a scene in which Ms Lodge insists that Archie Andrews (Agastya Nanda) accompany her to an upscale club where her businessman "daddy" (Harim Lodge, played by Alyy Khan) is a member. Upon arriving at the club, Archie is denied entry for inappropriate footwear. Ms Lodge dials her daddy dearest. She has him speak to the 'chappy' at the reception, after which the two are ushered in.

In the world of Zoya Akhtar-directed film The Archies (co-written by Farhan Akhtar and Ayesha DeVitre), the dialogue is a precursor to the nepo-fest unfolding in the film. It serves as a stark reminder of the nepotism debate amid which the film, which features three star-kids in lead roles -- Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor and Agastya Nanda, premiered on Netflix on December 7.

Hot Take

In making The Archies, Zoya, burdened by the label of a Bollywood insider, fails to transcend the shadow of nepotism, delivering a film that crumbles under the weight of its misplaced priorities. Despite cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis creating an impactful, visually-lit world, the film stumbles on several fronts.

From unexplored narrative themes such as female friendship, ambition, and closet homosexuality to lacklustre performances, the film can't hold its own weight in spite of  Akhtar's attempts to camouflage subpar acting and the film's fundamental flaws with picturesque visuals.

Is The Archies worth the hype?

Zoya Akhtar's adaptation of Archie Comics unfolds in the picturesque hill town of Riverdale, inhabited primarily by the Anglo-Indians. Events set off when the closure of the cherished Green Park, which has trees planted by each family, for a hotel project disrupts the lives of Archie and his friends.

The blame falls on Veronica and her father Mr Lodge, who is the brain behind the hotel project, leading to a rift in the group. Amid a looming love triangle and business closures, Archie, initially set on leaving for London, has a change of heart and stays back to save the park.

The second half focuses on the gang's collective struggle to 'Save The Green'. However, the narrative, pitting capitalism and modernity against roots, lacks depth and genuine conflict.

Unconvincing performances

Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor fall prey to their novice acting skills, failing to breathe life into characters that demand depth.

Khan's portrayal of Ms Lodge is marked by over-the-top theatrics. She tries to overcompensate for her acting skills, or the lack thereof, by singing (Khan has lent her voice to Jab Tum Na Theen), dancing and roller-skating. However, these efforts fall flat. Nevertheless, Khan effortlessly channels the alluring charm of Ms Lodge as she appears well-acquainted with the character's aura of entitlement. 

Khushi Kapoor's portrayal of Betty in The Archies, though not as painful to watch as Khan's Veronica, fails to rise above the constraints of the film's shallow narrative. Kapoor lacks the emotional nuance required to bring Betty to life. Her performance comes across as dull, contributing to the overall mediocrity of The Archies.

Agastya Nanda's attempt at delivering a measured performance as Archie Andrews is hampered by a fundamental lack of maturity and subtlety. Despite being the central character with ample screen time, Nanda fails to leave a lasting impression, struggling to make Archie relatable and compelling. The character's emotional journey lacks depth. In a film where the central figure is pivotal to the narrative, Nanda's performance falls short.

Star kids hog the limelight

While Suhana, Khushi, and Agastya struggle to deliver convincing performances, the saving grace is Vedang Raina (Reggie Mantle) and Mihir Ahuja (Jughead Jones), who manage to inject some energy into the narrative whenever they grace the screen. Raina and Ahuja, both are effective in scenes that require emotional depth.

Dot. (Ethel Muggs) who has penned all four Dear Diary tracks and lent her voice to the songs Asymmetrical, Dhishoom Dhishoom and Sunoh, is good in the little screen time she got. Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley captures the closeted turmoil of the character with sensitivity.

The limited screen time and underdeveloped character arch of each one of the four supporting characters restrict them from making any significant contribution to the narrative.

Notably, Zoya had criticised the media for selective coverage. Now, her own decisions seem to echo a similar pattern of favouring certain characters. The disparity between the film's poster and the actual narrative treatment of its ensemble cast reveals a notable incongruity in Akhtar's stance on the matter.

Musical overload

The Archies being a musical, was expected to have songs galore. However, unlike typical musicals where songs are enchanting, here, they serve as an additional hindrance to an already cumbersome viewing experience. The overdose of songs throughout the film feels forced including the hugely marketed and hyped tracks like Sunoh, composed by Ankur Tewari and The Islanders, Va Va Voom, Jab Tum Na Theen and the many versions of Dear Diary. The political commentary, expressed through Everything is Political (lyrics by Dot. and Javed Akhtar) lacks the sharpness needed to make a lasting impact. The music album, like the film's narrative, is shallow.

A disheartening departure from Akhtar's legacy

The Archies stands in stark contrast to Akhtar's previous cinematic triumph, Gully Boy, in which she celebrated the raw talent and struggles of the marginalised through the art of rap. Akhtar's honest endeavour to give a voice to those often overlooked in the mainstream, landed her the honour of Gully Boy being selected as India's official entry at the 92nd Academy Awards. However, with The Archies, the director seems to have taken a detour into a glossy, superficial world that prioritises star-studded casts over meaningful narratives.

Stream it or skip it?

It has been a while since a film has been made about the Anglo-Indian community in the country, its decision to stay back, its efforts at integration, and its acceptance of itself as a minority. The last film of note was Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial debut, Death In The Gunj (2016). A revisiting the cultural history of the Brits who made India their home could have been interesting. 

But Zoya Akhtar's The Archies is a dull and vacuous movie. The film's landscape lacks depth -- both in terms of cultural representation and the development-tradition debate.    

Bottomline

The kids exude an air of sophistication in their designer ensembles, showcasing a keen sense of fashion. All of them speak Hindi with an accent. The narrative fails to evoke warmth, and the film departs from Zoya's distinctive directorial style that adeptly captures nuances with subtle finesse. The Archies appears as a misstep in Zoya's otherwise illustrious career, marred by a lack of cohesive direction, unexplored narrative potential and casting choices that fail to justify their roles.

Rating: 1/5 stars