Speedy Singhs: The Review

This Indo-Canadian comedy film is funny and affirms many clichés that does remind you of Gurinder Chadha's 'Bend It Like Beckham’.

Perhaps ‘Speedy Singhs’ will never wear you out, even though it has strong similarities to racial sports comedy films like 'Bend it Like Beckham', 'Chak De!India', and Akshay’s 'Patiala House'.

Almost everything that ensues in the film has been designed to bring in easy laughter and tears.

Don’t go to the theatre expecting anything extraordinary, yet the film is charming and funny and also predictable and flat.

‘Speedy Singhs’ explicitly spins on a Punjabi family in Toronto, where the Non-Resident Indian Rajveer (Vinay Virmani) grew up with a passion for sports and dreams of excelling in the ice hockey league.

He wants to play for the Honda cup. However, his controlling father wants to implicate him to the family business.

Meanwhile, Virmani practically lives a double life by playing hockey and obeying his father at home.

The film that dwells on the drama and hockey matches doesn’t drown in the mechanics of the sport, but reels on the highs and lows of relationships and family bonding.

Bright spots
Anyway, there's one solace, as at some fundamental level, you can simply enjoy watching this film.

The movie delights in the key elements of humor for definitely exhibiting a keen sense of sharp comic timing laced with fizzy crisp dialogues.

From the pacing of the film, which is smooth and athletic, to the bitingly funny lines, everything helps assuage the let down.

Though it’s guessable that there is a significant surge of deeply patriotic sentiments and the seam of racist remarks, the film practically downplays them without going overboard.

The narration in the film is the highpoint of ‘Speedy Singhs’ and sustains interest for the self-consciously naughty dialogues and bawdy jokes.

The music is peppy and has a Punjabi flavor with the assortment of bhangra beats that sets the mood.

Blooper
Vinay Virmani, Noel Barker, Jeffrey Schechter and Matt Simmons story may have the substance, though the screenplay is lean and unforgivably underdeveloped that doesn’t stand out.

Performance wise
Director Robert Lieberman has brought the Indian Diaspora onscreen and shows the nuances of the relationship between each character whether it’s the father and son or the romance track between Rajveer and his girlfriend Melissa.

The acrobatic repartee between Rajveer and Russell Peters is easy going and some of the high points.

‘Speedy Singhs’ is elevated in the commendably sincere performances of the characters.

Vinay Virmani lives up to the expectation with the certain gullibility in his role. Anupam Kher and Stand Up comedian Russell Peters did a flawless job with their respective roles, while Camilla Belle and Rob Lowe make a convincing impact.

Akshay’s cameo in the end credit for the song ‘Shera di Kaum Punjabi’ is entertaining to watch.

Storyline
Set in Canada, the film depicts the life of Punjabi Immigrants in the place and follows the rituals of their religion and customs.

‘Speedy Singhs’ revolves around a traditional Sikh family, where the young man Rajveer Singh (Vinay Virmani) sets his heart on ice hockey. He doesn’t adhere to the customs of his religion and cuts off his hair to adapt to the society that he lives in.

He is always at loggerheads with his father Darvesh Singh (Anupam), since his dad wants him to get involved with the family transport business run by his chacha (Gurpreet Guggi).

Incidentally, Rajveer Singh (Vinay Virmani) and his cute friends collaborate to form a team full of Sardars called the ‘Speedy Singhs’, and he manages to get a coach (Rob Lowe) to train them in the sport.

Meanwhile, his father is clueless about his sporting dreams. Interestingly, there is also a romantic track between him and the coach’s sister Melissa (Camilla Belle).

Bottom-line
Whilst there is nothing inventive about the plot of ‘Speedy Singhs’, it’s a neat film that does culminate in a joyous ride.

‘Speedy Singhs’ is good in parts, and can be enjoyable if you can relate to the characters.