Search - Bollywood and Vine on DVD

Good Try

J. E. Fuchs | Minnesota | 11/12/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not an expert at reviewing. I usually don't explain my rating. But I felt I needed to support my claim.

Okay, this movie is an indie. And it's more than obvious in the first ten minutes. (In one shot, you can see the cameraman's reflection in the mirror!) But I stopped laughing at the incredulities and let myself give it a chance.

I'm glad I did. It's a cute first(?) movie. The plot is silly but so are most big blockbusters. The acting isn't superb but it's still believable. Somehow I still found myself captivated by this story.

Once you get past the ridiculous, such as the fact that Devin looks the same as Delilah but is a foot taller yet still gets misidentified as the starlet, this isn't necessarily a waste of time.

I wouldn't watch it again on purpose. But if there was nothing else on, I might indulge myself in a little bit of ameatur filmmaking."

A Hoot!

Snazzyact | Florida | 04/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For a low budget indie, this movie is a hoot. A farcical comedy with twists and turns and mistaken identity. Gags and terrifically funny lines are best appreciated by people in the "biz". A totally enjoyable entertaining film. If you just want to be amused and aren't looking for heavy drama, pick this one up!"

And for those interested in campy parodies....

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 10/08/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"then here is a little VERY low budget film that barely reaches the tolerable level for most, but for those who delight in over-the-top spoofs, it may just appeal. One wonders just how these 'Bollywood' spoofs escape criticism from the fine film makers that come out of India (Deepa Mehta's trilogy, for example), but then most of them are made in India and are actually throwbacks to the heyday cinematic musicals of the 1940s.

BOLLYWOOD AND VINE follows the contrived idea that a young Indian wannabe film maker named Bhuvan Bannerji (Jamey Schrick) drives a tourist bus into the Hollywood Hills where lives an old actress of horror movies, one Delilah Leigh (Skye Aubrey, the only professional actress in the film and one whose credits date back to 1967) who lives on poverty's edge with her gay son Devin (J.R. Jones). Delilah hasn't worked in years, lives as a recluse, and when Bhuvan mistakes Devin (in complete drag) for Delilah he leaves a script at her doorstep. A charade begins, with Bhuvan's bad script seems to be a ticket to money if Devin can convince him he is able to carry the role in Bhuvan's home of Bombay - a Bollywood movie. Delilah and Devin vie for stardom, Delilah locks the boys in the attic to nurture Devin's need for a relationship, Bhuvan rebels, attempts escape, and the trio become caught up in an accidental death of a snoopy wannabe star neighbor (Trish Dempsey). Of course they are caught and the ending just gets so silly that it is groanfully bad.

The saving grace of the film is that it doesn't take itself seriously. The script has some funny lines sparingly dropped here and there and the cast seems to be having a great time with the comedy. This is a tough film to classify: it has gay themes but very little in the way of gay plot - except for the camp. This is one of those 'loving hands at home' films that is somewhat salvaged by Skye Aubrey who clearly knows her craft! Grady Harp, October 06"

Ouch - I got brain cramps

Jay R. Chase | Houston, Texas | 01/19/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Wow.. where do I begin? The filming is high-school, first college project quality.... lots and lots of gaffes to pick out. The acting is about the same. There are some cute moments, but the overall effect felt like a Rocky Horror knock-off.... I am talking some serious camp here folks!!! The movie really has zero to do with bollywood.... anyway, nuff said. If you are gonna watch this film... my only advice is... take two tylenol first (tequila might work)! :)"