The Guru
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Movie Reviews of The Guru
Movie Review: Good entertainment. Good exposition of Western gullability.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a true story, it happens all the time, the sex gurus and non sex gurus who take advantage of gullability, spiritual poverty, and thirst for something more to expolit others. But it's ultimately the fault of their followers for being so shallow.Movie Review: Simpatico
Summary: 4 Stars
The end it is not original and also some scenes are very predictable, but most scenes are very funny and the start it is quite original. Actors are not bad and the whole movie is good humor. It is worth watching it!Movie Review: Light as Feather, Delightful Heather; Decent Romantic Comedy
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me first remind you this; "The Guru" is not exactly a "Bollywood-Meets-Hollywood" film. It's more like "Boogie Nights" in romantic comedy style. And you see lovely Heather "Roller Girl" Graham as a porn film star (this time with clothes on, however).The film's real star is Jimi Mistry ("East Is East") as handsome dance instructor Ramu Gupta living in India, dreaming of success in America. Determined to make it there just like his hero John Travolta's Danny in "Grease," he goes to New York City only to find that cold reality. The only chance he got is a porn film, and he blows it because of very embarrassing situation.
But he has a pep talk about sex from his co-star Heather Graham, and because of that advice accidentally is mistaken as a genuine New Age "guru" by Marisa Tomei's character. Ramu gets famous, with a help from unsuspecting Graham, among those people who are willing to pay for any good, enlightening advice on life -- and it's New York you know that -- and he is about to be big when he knows that he is using her. And moreover, he seems to have fallen in love with her.
The story is too contrived, and the script is too ineffective to be really interest us. Ironically the "guru" part is not as good as romance part, lacking the power to convince us of the situation. It is the characters that make up for the loss of plot coherence, brightening up with their good and delightful performances. Let's forget about Ms. Graham's "Killing Me Softly" debacle for she is very charming, and so is Ms. Tomei, the latter even given a brief moment of displaying her sexiness you usually miss in her films. But the most impressive is Jimi Mistry, always funny and likable even doing the most silly gags (see his auditioning dancing).
As to the Bollywood elements, "The Guru" succeeds in mixing them with Hollywood romantic comedy formula. The dancing and songs look like real Indian films, and the music is aptly the combination of traditional instruments and techno pop. I only regret that they use too few moments showing these "Bollywood" musical set-pieces. The rest of the film is made from rather clithed ingredients from usual rom-coms and tired jokes including the ones about gays.
Light as feather, but still funny thanks to the able actors included, "The Guru" is a romantic comedy with a twist. But the twist is too slight, and if you have not seen those delightful "Bollywood" films, I recommend you should see one of them first, or soon after watching this one.
Movie Review: Bollywood crosses Hollywood
Summary: 3 Stars
Ramu Gupta (Jimi Mistry) is a dance teacher to little old ladies in Delhi. One day he decides to up and leave for Hollywood to find his fame and fortune. He gets a job in an Indian restaurant but is fired not long after after he pours chicken tikka masala over an angry customer. He then auditions for a role in a movie without knowing that it's a porn film. There he meets Sharronna (Heather Graham) who is a philosophical porn star. He doesn't manage to make the film because he has a problem achieving "wood" what with being surrouned by a film crem of 20 people. During a birthday party he disguises as a swami and starts talking about sex philosophy. He meets the birthday girl Lexi (Marissa Tomei) and they start up a relationship and partnership to turn Ramu into a sex Guru who eventually becomes successful. The thing is he knows nothing about sex philosophy so has meetings with Sharronna who teaches everything she knows about sex. Slowly Ramu finds himself falling in love with Sharronna but she's already engaged to Rusty who doesn't know that she's a film star. There are some wonderful Bollywood dance scenes in the film but there aren't too many funny lines. I thought that the premise was good but it could have been so much funnier. Watch it if you have nothing better to do.
Lealing
Movie Review: Fun movie, but drags at some points
Summary: 3 Stars
"The Guru" is about an Indian man who immigrates to the United States with dreams of becoming a famous actor, but winds up in the New Age "guru" circuit. It's funny stuff, and there are some good scenes. The selling point of the movie is the dance scenes combining "Bollywood" and "Hollywood." "Bollywood" is the term given to Indian cinema where extended dance and song numbers take center stage. The pleasure of the "The Guru" is seeing American actors just jump into Indian song and dance. It's also fun to see Indian actors do American dance. "Grease" fans should find much to like. The lead actor imagines himself as a John Travolta type, with many references to the musical. There are a few drawbacks. The dance scenes weren't quite up to Indian or American standards - you couldn't see much choreography. The films also sagged in some places - some scenes were just slow. Otherwise, a funny film with lots going for it. I recommend it.