Baywatch Movie Review: Priyanka Sizzles, the Plot Fizzles

Priyanka Chopra basically went saat samandar paar to do an ‘Aitraaz’ for ‘Baywatch’.
Stutee Ghosh
Cinema
Updated:
Priyanka Chopra basically went saat samandar paar to do an ‘Aitraaz’ for ‘Baywatch’. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Baywatchmovie)
Priyanka Chopra basically went <i>saat samandar paar</i> to do an ‘Aitraaz’ for ‘Baywatch’. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/<a href="https://twitter.com/baywatchmovie">@Baywatchmovie</a>)
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The curiosity surrounding “Oye, Priyanka Chopra kaisi hai?” appears to be the only explanation as to why people of the sub-continent are so irresistibly drawn to Baywatch.

Don’t kill the messenger here but PeeCee basically went saat samandar paar to do an Aitraaz.

As the resident vamp, Priyanka Chopra sizzles. But it is all rather Aitraaz-ish. While she never joins the other red swimsuit-donning goddesses in Baywatch, she sure does dress to kill in the film.

Director Seth Gordon’s movie adaptation of the 25-year-old, hugely popular TV series introduces us to a bunch of unrealistically good-looking people guarding the beach. What are they guarding it against, you ask? It appears as though the threats could be anything, ranging from drowning paper boats to alien attacks.

The bulging biceps aside, there are also some chest-pumping inspirational speeches about saving lives, being a family, and all that. That’s right. There’s enough cheesiness for everyone on board to ham their way through the film. 

No offence here, but I think every actor in this film – be it Priyanka Chopra, Dwayne Johnson, Kelly Rohrbach, Jon Bass, Alexandra Daddario or Zac Efron – could have played their parts while asleep. I don't want to be harsh on the actors because a good script serves as the lifeguard of a film. Here, however, the plot is so predictable and uninspiring that it fails to take off.

A few scenes featuring Dwayne and Zac together have some spark. However, when the Rock exits the show post-interval, things become so shaky that you’ll find yourself desperately wishing that he would return and keep you awake. Lieutenant Mitch and his motley crew then have a one-on-one battle with saddi Victoria Leeds, whose husky voice and oozing oomph will make desi hearts swell with pride.

The Diwali pataakas in the climax not-withstanding (I kid you not), Baywatch is quite lukewarm – and pointless, if you are particularly hard to please.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 quints.

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Published: 02 Jun 2017,10:52 AM IST

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