In our preview, we wrote that Rafi-Mecartin and Rajasenan have just one trick up their sleeves and they repeat it again and again. According to the reviewers, this time it is no different. It is the same comedy routine repeated ad infinitum. One of our regulars, Jibs, had noted that if Dileep did not change his tactics, he might go the Jayaram way and that is exactly what Rediff’s reviewer too had to say.

Unni Nair writes

< The plot seems good and interesting coming as it does from Rajasenan, but post-interval things seem to go out of control and even seem to be boring at places. Dileep is OK as Manu, but there is nothing outstanding about his performance or character. Vimala as Priya is passable, but at places she seems to be rather uncomfortable with the role. Samvritha as Leena is good while new girl Shruthi doesn't impress much as Bhama
The film moves at a brisk pace in the first half especially as the emphasis is mostly on verbal comedy, but post interval the pace slows down and some of the scenes seem to lack freshness and appeal. The songs though in tune with the theme and mood, are ordinary and won’t stay in our memories for long. Nambiathiri’s camerawork is good and so is Raja Mohamed’s editing. The film is an average comic entertainer, and not a terribly bad one at that. But judging by the response inside the theatres on day one, it is to be seen whether the film does good business or not.

Moviebuzz writes

Rafi and Mecartin loves the Priyadarsan type of comedies where bus load of characters, some of them with mistaken identities, others with their own comic agenda meet in the climax and its total bedlam. Once more the “mad, mad, mad world formula” has been beaten to death. There is no original bone in the story or narration, everybody does their comic act and provide their quota of laughs and disappears.
Dileep, Haneefa, Sooraj, Salim Kumar, Bheeman Reghu (comic villain), Riza Bava, Asokhan, Malika Sukumaran (a new addition to the laugh brigade) does their roles competently and proves again that they have terrific comedy timing, while the girls Vimala, Samvrutha and Sruthilakshmi looks good.

Paresh Palicha, for a change has some analysis

The screenplay has everything that you can imagine in the slapstick films of a bygone era. There are impersonations, mistaken identities and what have you.

The first half works with ‘a laugh a minute’ situations. But this gets too much in the second half. It would have worked if the gung-ho spirit was maintained throughout the duration of the film. Somehow we get a feeling that the writer(s)-director team were clueless about how to get out of the quagmire they found themselves in.

Dileep seems to be control in the beginning as the role of Manu is tailor made for him. But this does not last long as the film proceeds. Known as a poor man’s Mohanlal when he started doing roles like this, the actor, of late seems to have lost some sheen in executing them. He had better rediscover himself soon or his career will go Jayaram’s way.

(Image via NowRunning.com)

After 28 movies, the trade circles think that Prithviraj can be a solo hero. When Classmates was a super hit, it was said that it was not a single hero movie. When his roles in Vargam and Vasthavam were said to be good, it was suggested that he cannot do comedy. Now that Chocolate is a big hit, new goal posts have to be found or the existing ones have to be shifted for higher excellence, like he cannot speak Arabic very well or he has not danced in the streets of New Zealand with Kavya Madhavan.

Such opportunities will be abound when Prithviraj’s new movie gets released in December.

Prithviraj plays Josekutty of Palakunnel family, who despite being a graduate, takes up the job of an auto driver, in order to support his family, which is suffering from a financial crisis. Kind-hearted Josekutty has a good friend circle too–Manmadhan, Chellappan and Prasanth. Once, when he happens to find a one-and-half-year-old child on the streets, he decides to adopt and bring up the child. Since that moment, he takes the child wherever he goes, providing him all needed care.[Prithviraj's Kangaroo set to release in Christmas ]

The movie is directed by Raj Babu who is known for the Dileep action-thriller Chess which turned out to be a boring  action-thriller. Since this Kangaroo is being marketed as a comedy movie, we are not sure, if it will turn out to be a boring comedy movie. That depends on the talents of J. Pallassery who is not known for comedies. Also one of the last movies Pallassery scripted, Panthayakozhi, turned out to be anything but a fighting rooster.

In December, this movie, which also stars Kavya Madhavan and Jayasurya is going face tough competition from both M&M’s and Dileep’s Romeo. Right now the question facing most vc readers is: Is Dileep 10% of Prithviraj or is Prithviraj 10% of Dileep. The answers to those questions can be found before the New Year.

Finally in December a new Dileep movie is going to be released. This time he has not chosen any auspicious day like Bakrid or Christmas but a rather uneventful day like Dec 14. Remember that scene in Lagaan where the villagers dance around seeing the rain clouds (Ghanana Ghanana song); for Dileep fans it is such a moment when they eagerly await the release of Romeo. With this movie, Dileep returns to his strengths – mimicry, oops, we mean comedy. In the movie he plays Manu, a male home nurse who romances Vimala Raman and Samvritha Sunil at the same time.

The script writers Rafi-Mercartin know one story, which is basically mixup of people and circumstances and they have mixed it very well in movies like Thenkasi Pattanam and Punjabi House. Then there is their guru Rajasenan who basically knows to make one type of movie. When all these single act ponies get together for a movie, the resulting story line can be predicted. Then after watching movies like Alibhai, Paradesi and Rock’n'Roll everyone could use a little laugh, even if it is the predictable one.

Karl Marx, when he wrote the Communist Manifesto in 1848 believed that, ” capitalism will be displaced by communism, a classless society after another transitional period in which the state would be nothing else but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.” Nothing of that sort happened and communism turned out to be the worst economic system in the world. Practitioners of that movement sent the maximum number of people into poverty and even more to death. Communism also gave us psychopaths like Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Che Guevara and their death camps.

In India, off shoots like Naxalites specialized in murdering people in the name of class warfare. They did not believe in elections or democracy or following the law, because they were made to believe that everyone was their enemy. There are lot of people like grievances, but if everyone starts shooting others, nothing will get solved and the Naxalites never figured this one out. The State too reacted brutally against these murderers by using force to maintain law and order. When a policeman P. Ramachandran Pillai told how he had killed Naxal Varghese in 1970, it showed that the state too did not follow the laws they were supposed to uphold.

The story of Naxal Varghese and P. Ramachandran Pillai is now being told in a new movie titled Thalapavu and it stars Prithviraj as the Naxal and Lal as Mr. Pillai. The movie is directed by Madhupal, the actor and it is being filmed around the Aleppey area. Prithviraj at a young age has portrayed very complex political characters in Padmakumar movies like Vargam and Vasthavam and this one will take him one more step in the serious political movie genre. The movie is written by Babu Janardhanan who has written excellent movies like Vasthavam and Achanurangatha Veedu and is competent to handle this theme. The new person in this venture is Madhupal, who has not directed a movie before, but as we have seen most new directors in Malayalam seem to be doing very well.

We had lot of “fun” movies this year like Alibhai, Mayavi and Black Cat that we are looking forward to this serious political movie. Then even with political movies you have to take care for Ranjan Pramod tried to do something in Photographer and the film was white washed and even the star power of Mohanlal could not save it. If the movie is gripping and has a balanced presentation, it could have an audience.
(Image via: NowRunning.com)

One of the first movie reviews about Chocolate was published here at vc by our guest contributor Movie Mazaa or MM for short. MM used a few words and metaphors which were later liberally found in reviews published by web sites of main stream media or MSM for short. (Watch out for the words in bold)

MM wrote

Chocolate is as scrumptious as it possibly can get. It’s a film that has its target audience chalked out in precise and exact strokes, and as such does a great job catering to its taste. Pretty darn funny at times, and wickedly humorous at others, it definitely won’t set new standards in film making, but would remain a true wild entry in the genre.

Chocolate is in no mood to lay itself down on a platter for a critical scrutiny, I agree. It doesn’t merit an elaborate analysis either. However, even a faint mark with an inquisitive scalpel would reveal chauvinism at its extreme in almost all the guffaws that it offers.

Shafi as the man at the helm has a real smart penchant for hit-craft as they call it and the film moves at a lightning pace towards a mirthful finish. Here he is a man with an excessively silly script and nothing much to say. And yet, and this is the most important point, he tremendously entertains.

IndiaGlitz wrote

Living by his words for the nth time, he again delivers another super hit that strictly entertains. His Ramzan flick ‘Chocolate’ is not a subtle film – It has only a thin line thread, and the script takes many too-predictable turns. Yet despite the lack of surprises, ‘Chocolate’ is indeed a hilarious comedy riot that knocks you over the head with its well directed sequences. With its target audience marked out in precise strokes, the film very well caters to their tastes and appeals without doubt.

But Shyam is also politically incorrect as they come. He insults the gang, tells offensive chauvinistic jokes, and generally goes out of his way to offend their leader Anna

Even though ‘Chocolate’ doesn’t set new standards in film making, it does provide just the right sort of escapist entertainment we’ve come to expect from films of this genre. Make  sure you  secure a seat at the earliest to enjoy this  hilarious  fun, which will definitely make you  give a smile that will linger.

Shafi  shows his real smart penchant for hit-craft  which he applies brilliantly  to hold the flick together  and present it at a lightning pace towards a jovial finish. It’s one of those films, that aren’t as much about the ending, as it is about the journey, which is hilarious, heart-warming and pleasant. And yet the most important point is that the flick tremendously entertains

Sify wrote

Shafi’s script is what makes the film work, its minty cool along with the comedy in the first half which is rip-roaring, and the drama within a play in the climax makes it sweet. He has been able to make it a non-stop entertainer with humour, romance and sentiments mixed in the right proposition. Added to that the Alex Paul- Vayalar Sarathchandra Varma teams music like the song Ishtam alle Chollu…, and the chic looking campus have made it rocking.

Pritviraj as Shyam has come out with his most lovable performance, letting his hair down and also proving that he has a gift for comedy and dramatic subtlety, which has remained neglected all these years. Pritvi’s petticoat scene is a riot! Roma is strikingly sweet while Samvrutha and Remya are OK. Jayasurya has played second fiddle to Pritvi, while Salim Kumar is once again able to bring the house down with his comic timing.

On the whole Chocolate is not only sweet, but hot –‘n’- happening. Go for it and enjoy!

Unni Nair writes

What would you expect from the director of films like One Man Show, Kalyanaraman, Pulivaal Kalyanam, Thommanum Makkalum and Mayavi? No doubt a full-length, colourful entertainer with an interesting story and ample dosages of humour, songs and well-choreographed dance sequences. Well, that’s exactly what Shafi gives you in his sixth and latest offering, which too is on the way to becoming another box office success. Chocolate, true to its name, is a yummy kind of film, one that you’d love to savour to the fullest extent. It’s colourful, entertaining and youthful to the core.

The songs have been choreographed well, in true Shafi style and sync perfectly with the theme and the mood. “Kalkanda Malare…” and “Ishtamalle…” are good ones. Technical aspects are excellent. Debutantes Sachi and Sethu, who penned the story and the script, deserve to be appreciated for having come up with so exciting an entertaining a subject. Bravo Shafi, Sachi, Sethu, Prithviraj, Roma and everyone else! To sum up, Chocolate is a clean entertainer, a perfect film for a festive season! Go and watch it with your family!

Paresh Palicha in Rediff writes

The premise may sound weird when read, but Shafi miraculously pulls it off with gusto. He has pulled off a lighter role with uncanny ease, effectively silencing all those who felt that the young actor was becoming a tad repetitive with his intense roles.

What follows is a rollicking ride through campus humour, which sometimes borders on innuendoes, but nevertheless flows seamlessly without any feeling of awkwardness. In fact this film can be an advocate for an inclusive society as we see our man struggling to find a urinal to relieve himself. But looking for depth will be futile. So relax and enjoy things while the going is good.

But the overall bouncy effect does not dissolve till the end. Things move swiftly under Shafi’s baton and don’t jangle on your nerves.

(Reader Nikhil sent us this review of Chocolate)

Shafi’s Chocolate tells the story of a boy, who comes to study in a women’s college. Prithviraj plays the lead Shyam Balagopal who carries nine suspensions and seven police cases during his graduation. Roma is the heroine Ann Mathews. The movie starts with the PTA meeting happening in the St.Mary’s women’s college (Sacret Heart College, Thevara) to make it a mixed one. Veteran actress Shari makes a come back through this movie, and she plays the role of the principal. Due to the parents’ protest, the college authority turns down the decision but allots one boy as per the rule for the PG course. The main gang of Ann, Nandana (Samvritha) and Susan (Ramya) are against the arrival of a boy where the opposite gang welcomes it.

After his arrival, there happens a lot of funny moments and even a ‘ragging’ against him. It results in the suspension of Ann and Shyam. But the initial war between Ann Mathews’ gang and Shyam gives way to friendship and the college election result becomes a turning point in the story. Prithviraj carries the film on his shoulders and Shafi handled Shyam with care. Roma’s performance is not up to that of Notebook but she handled the bold Ann Mathews very well.

After Classmates, Keralites get the chance to see some nice romance on the screen. Prithviraj and Roma carries good on-screen chemistry and it is handled well by Shafi. Samvritha gives a commendable performance and Ramya’s role is just an eye candy one. Jayasurya plays the role of a young fashion designer (Ranjith) who falls for Nandana. But his role is only a supporting one. Unlike Classmates, Chocolate does not carry a strong story line, but it overcomes Classmates in the entertainment value.

Among the crew, the debutant writers Sachi and Sethu deserves the first applause for the gripping script. But the second half could have been made even better . Some scenes are predictable and the unnecessary fight scene could have been avoided. The climax scene is innovative and it suits the film’s mood. Salim Kumar also contributes to the comedy part, but there is a comic scene from Salim Kumar on the drama stage where he tries to improvise Chandrika’s dialog, which misfires unexpectedly.

With Chocolate, Shafi proves that he can also make visually appealing movie if there is a good script with him. He has improved a lot from his previous venture Mayavi. He took care of the song picturization too. My favourite scene in the film is Shyam’s first day in the classroom. He couldn’t take his eyes from the surrounding girls and this scene provides enough laughter even without any dialogue. Prithviraj’s performance in this scene is enough to shut the mouth of his critics who says that he is weak in doing comedy. It seems he had done enough home work for Chocolate.

The art director Salu.K George deserves a special mention for making the film really colorful. The film has four songs, but Alex Paul’s music is a let down except the romantic melody “Ishtamalle…” which is really hummable and shot well. All the songs are apt to the situation. But I think the last one, “Thamarayum..” could have been avoided. The background score slightly resembles “Ente Khalbile” but it is used well in apt situations.

In short, Chocolate is a must watch with the family for its end to end entertainment value, with a unique theme. The film is sure to get many repeat viewers among the youth and is going to become this year’s mega hit.

(Image Courtsey: Rediff.com)

(Cross posted at Movie Mazaa)

Chocolate is as scrumptious as it possibly can get. It’s a film that has its target audience chalked out in precise and exact strokes, and as such does a great job catering to its taste. Pretty darn funny at times, and wickedly humorous at others, it definitely won’t set new standards in film making, but would remain a true wild entry in the genre.

St.Mary’s All Girls’College is set to welcome its first male student Shyam (Prithviraj) amidst loud protests from the PTA authorities as well as a group of tomboyish students headed by Anne (Roma), Nandana (Samvrutha) and Susan (Ramya). It’s a war that ends in love as always, with a certain degree of sweetness and charm about it.

The tenor is always buoyant and the characters are immensely adorable and hence it’s hard to take offence at the crudest of the jokes. It would seem quite funny that a college film would barely have a shot inside a classroom and that too for the sole purpose of a real raunchy rejoinder. The girls do what they do best – look pretty, all three of them; while Prithviraj finds himself quite at ease being the object of their affection. It’s one of those feel-good films where you let your good sense fly out of the exit door and rest assured that everything would turn out perfect in the end.

Despite its pretensions, Chocolate doesn’t melt in your mouth and belongs to another family altogether – it’s either a sour jelly or a sugary lollipop, I’m not sure which. It’s a bizarre film, in that the screenplay plummets deep into illogicalities and the gags are often lewd and downright offensive. The narrative stretches along a faint line of rationality that ultimately breaks and leaves you stranded in a delirium. . Shafi as the man at the helm has a real smart penchant for hit-craft as they call it and the film moves at a lightning pace towards a mirthful finish. Here he is a man with an excessively silly script and nothing much to say. And yet, and this is the most important point, he tremendously entertains.

I loved the peppy songs, regardless of the very outlandish lyrics. Sharath Vayalar and Alex Paul are not at their Classmates’ best, but they do help retain the upbeat mood right through. Azhakappan’s camera is sharp and swank as it swishes up and down the campus contours with style and some real snappy editing by Lokanathan ensures that it’s all crisp as a crunchy bite that’s really worth a nibble.

Chocolate is in no mood to lay itself down on a platter for a critical scrutiny, I agree. It doesn’t merit an elaborate analysis either. However, even a faint mark with an inquisitive scalpel would reveal chauvinism at its extreme in almost all the guffaws that it offers. Unintentional perhaps, but awful nevertheless. But then as someone said, there’s no moral here, just a lot of stuff happening.

Shafi’s Chocolate is a syrupy concoction all right; if you happen to be an aficionado of sugar, delve right into it.

Photo courtesy:rediff.com