I got this movie from the library on the recomendation of a fellow reviewer. The DVD laid around my apartment for about a week before we put it on, not knowing what to expect. i could go on andton about comparisons with american movies or explaining the genres and cultural commentary, but that is not what I am all about. What I will say is that it was one of the most enjoyable 3.5 hours I have spent in quite a while. I have also been compelled to show my favorite scenes to apartment visitors and bring it to someone elses house to let them experience Lagaan. My wife downloaded some of the songs and I have had many stuck in my head, despite the fact that I don’t understand a lick of the lyrics. Not to raise expectations too much. Note I didn’t give the film a super high rating because it didn’t blow my mind or anything like that. It is just really fun. And there is some ridiculous chorography.
I was pumped to see Tim Curry, Chris O’Donnell and Oliver Platt together in another feature film. While 1950’s sex research didn’t seem like a setting with much potential for swash buckling, I held out hope that they would recapture some of that 1993 magic. For some reason, probably fear of overpowering the audience with their charisma, the pertinent actors had very little screen time together. Instead the film spent a lot of time on Liam Neeson’s straight-edge yet swinging sex researcher character, the activities of his staff and the impact on the world of sex science and vice-versa. Still the main guy, whatever his name was, led a pretty interesting life even though he went through some typical movie trials and tribulations.
Gary Shandling, John Goodman, Ben Kingsley, Greg Kinnear and Annette Bening star in a comedy that could only be described as quirky. Even though this movie was made in 2000, it feels like it was made in 92 for some reason. Maybe it was the frozen yogurt joke. The plot of this film is pretty pedestrian, a member of an alien race of male clones who are ultra technological and straightforward. The movie had a lot of slow parts, they were really proud of how clever they could be. Nonetheless, the best parts of the movie were when they cleverly depicted classic “battle of the sexes” type scenes.
While preparing for the mission, the men are trained to answer “uh huh” while women talk. The range of seduction entails compliments on footware and scent. Later we get some funny scenes where Shandling impliments this system with varied success. For such a star studded cast, I didn’t end up impressed with the other performances. Though the usual likable Kinnear does do a nice job as the sleazeball co-worker. Shandling’s whiney delivery is very effective at times, but can be a bit grating. I feel like he is destined for the small screen.
What bogs the movie down are a few huge leaps of faith in the improbable plot lines, a three month pregnancy, a humming penis and Shandling’s endless sexual exploits all distract us from the more entertainning parts of the movie - an alien figuring out and being drawn into 21st century earth society.
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) 
