Movie Review: Jumbo

[sunilpal]

Cast: Voices of Akshay Kumar, Asrani, Lara Dutta, Dimple Kapadia, Rajpal Yadav, Gulshan Grover

Director: Kompin Kemgumnird

Rating: 2 on 5


Until now we were only dubbing English films in Hindi but now we have set our eyes on South-East Asian cinema. Jumbo, with Akshay Kumar's voice over is an Indianised version of Thai film Khan Kluay which released in 2006.

The story revolved around Jayveer or Jumbo is a baby elephant who leaves his mother Devi and sets off in search of his father, war elephant Yudhveer. Khabri bird Dildaar Yadav accompanies him on his journey. He meets pink elephant Sonia on the way and begins training to become the King's elephant like his father. He has to overcome his fears and face super strong and scary veteran war elephant Bakhtaavar.

Child artiste Ashar Shaikh and Akshay Kumar who provide the voices for Jumbo are excellent. Dimple Kapadia as Jumbo's mother Devi is very good too. Rajpal Yadav is talkative enough for Dildaar and perfectly cast. In fact Dildaar reminds you of Zazu from Lion King. Gulshan Grover is the perfect choice for the thunderous and intimidating villain Bakhtaavar. All these people make an impact but the one who doesn't is Lara Dutta as Sonia. You don't connect with her voice at all. She hardly has a few lines and the love angle was also unnecessary.

I think the biggest problem with Indian animation movies is that they are nowhere in the league of Disney or Pixar classics like Lion King, Aladdin, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and the recent Wall E. Those movies are so touching and uplifting put a smile on everyone's face, whether young or old. Jumbo is just a regular underdog story. He isn't a loser but he has to overcome his fears, rise to the occasion and save the kingdom. Jumbo doesn't really make an impact.

Some sequences like Jumbo's training sessions, the one where he reunites with his mother and the climax battle scenes are good. The animation is decent and colourful but nothing to rave about.

It is ok if you miss the title song, 'everything's gonna be alright' featuring Akshay Kumar. It is incongruous in an animation film. Bollywood can be so full of itself sometimes!

Children will like the movie because the visuals are pleasing enough. Adults on the other hand will only find Jumbo very cute. The movie will extract a few laughs from them while the children will have a ball. So it is a movie only children can watch.

The Indian animated movie which both children and adults can enjoy is yet to arrive.