So Today I was Archies which just released on Netflix I was waiting for the movie since I first saw the add.
I am a generation who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and there are very few from my generation who do not know that name. If you have ever traveled in the trains never once was a bookstall who did not have a copy of archies to it. Even our school library kept those copies for read only purposes to a part interest of reading in our young mind.
It was more of nostalgia that had taken over me so I patiently waited. On 7th December it was released on Netflix.
Let me tell you few things about the movie
Name : Archies
Director : Zoya Akthar
Cast
Archie – Archibald Andews – Agastya Nanda
Betty Cooper – Kushi Kapoor
Ronnie – Veronica Lodge – Suhana Khan
Reggie – Reginal Mantle – Vedang Raina
Jughead Jones – Mihir Ahuja
Ethel Muggs – Dot
Dilton Doiley – Yuvraj Mehda
These are the main characters of the movie. Everyone above is almost 17 I.e. coming of age. From all the surnames above we understand that this movie was mainly made for nepo kids and used Archies former publicity as backbone. That was my first guess too. I had my apprehension before watching the movie too.
The town of Riverdale in the movie is a hill station situated in North of India . Now I come from Uttarakhand and I know how British setup hillstation looks like.
Trust me when I say this the roads in the movie did not look like they are on a hill. When we say hill station we imagine the winding roads and picturesque scenery. The curve and turns gives the hill station its characteristics. All this is missing in the movie. Ofcourse they have shown bits of hill station but the main essence is missing out there. Even Green Park seems to be in plain than on a hill. For me it was a let down since I am so attached to mountains
The houses though beautiful and classic are no hill station houses. The cinematographer could have done a better job I guess.
Agastya Nanda grandson of Amithab Bacchan has potrayed Archies character in the movie. Archie in the comic is a very flambouyant teenager who is well intentioned and kind. Though Agastya looks kind and nice but that flambouyand thing which archie has is missing. He tried really heard I should say but just could not give life to the character we so much cherish.
Betty potrayed by Kushi Kapoor Janvi Kapoor’s sister daughter of Sridevi had me shocked. She potrayed the character so well that I had not imagined it. It was like the role was cut out for her. Unlike her sister Kushi Kapoor has potential and I would like to see what she has in store.
Suhana Khan daughter of our beloved Sharuk Khan is in the role of Ronnie or Veronica. I wish she had chosen some other movie which has more character role than this one. This girl has potential but not just for mainstream roles. Half the time she was trying to act above the age of character with a husky voice which is suppose to be sexy but on her it was like a baby trying to seduce you.
The next character which surprised me with acting was Dilton Doiley’s played by Yuvraj Mehda. OMG! He was spot on with the character and slipped it in with such a ease. I really would like to see that boy fly high. The emotions that he portrayed were super real like he is the character.
Next to him was Dot’s character Ethel. She has done justice to the role I think. Played great role for the time she was given. I think she could also be betty very nicely or would have done justice to veronicas character as well.
Reggie played by Vedang is also great just like how teeage boy should be a confident yet shy, handsome yet down to earth. I liked his role and would like to see further of him too.
All in all I think you can watch this movie one time over holidays with no brains needed.
Here are some more reviews on Archie if you would like to read
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