By Ed Koch
“Kites” (+)
This Bollywood movie, which was filmed primarily in Las Vegas and later on in Mexico, contains the crazy, quixotic and humorous elements of a Mel Brooks flick — and the deadly themes of violence and pyrotechnics of a Quentin Tarantino film. In addition, it has a superb soundtrack of pulsating music. While it doesn’t include a big dance scene (usually associated with Indian pictures), a dance of two lovers in a downpour is reminiscent of Gene Kelly’s solo performance in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
The plot — which includes flashbacks that aren’t always understandable — depicts a wealthy, vicious, brutal Indian family that owns a casino in Vegas. The family consists of the father, Bob (Kabir Bedi), his son Tony (Nicholas Brown) who is a murderer, and his daughter, Gina (Kangana Ranaut). J (Hrithik Roshan) is a gigolo and dance teacher who for money has married 11 illegal immigrants. J, who hopes to get rich by marrying Gina, becomes attracted to a beautiful Mexican woman, Natasha (Barbara Mori) — who is the fiancé of Tommy, his possible future brother-in law. It turns out that Natasha is one of the women J married so that she could obtain legal status in the U.S., presumably after sneaking across the border.
The movie is somewhat loony but also adorable and one in which love conquers all.
Henry Stern said: “Kites” is a romantic comedy mingled with an action melodrama, or vice versa. For a love story, they crashed and burned a lot of cars and trucks. The plot is so absurd it is funny, while the flashbacks make it hard to understand until the chases begin. A lot of people, cops and Mexicans get killed. The ending is Shakespearean, using modern technology. The verdict: amusing but confusing.”
Not Rated. Run time: 2 hours, 10 minutes. In Hindi and Spanish, with English subtitles. At the Quad Cinema (34 W. 13th Street). For screening times, call 212-255-2243.
