A flawed but fun Indian take on the loveable Archie Comics
Following the wild ride that was Netflix’s Riverdale, we now have a Netflix movie on the loveable Archie Comics but with an Indian twist. The Archies (2023) is a musical by popular director Zoya Akhtar who is known for her personalized spin on Bollywood movies such as Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do.
The Archies also caused quite a buzz for the casting of the main ensemble as it includes Suhana Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter) as Veronica Lodge, Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachan’s grandson) as Archie Andrews and Khushi Kapoor (Sridevi’s daughter) as Betty Cooper. Meanwhile, the secondary cast is full of veterans such as Koel Purie, Tara Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Alyy Khan and Luke Kenny.
The Archies has a light-hearted simple plot of friendship and saving Green Park – the heart of Riverdale. The Lodges want to build their hotel by tearing it down and the gang all get together to stop them, including Veronica Lodge. Meanwhile, they all have their own issues such as Betty pining for Archie who cannot pick between her and Veronica, and Reggie guessing Dilton’s secret.
There are other comic book favourites as well such as Jughead, Moose and Ethel but they are just there to fill the frame. Only Reggie seems to have an independent small storyline of trying to gain his father’s approval, the editor of the Gazette. And Vedang Raina shines as the charming rebel despite his limited role as Reggie.
There is some shallow commentary on social responsibility, climate change, minorities, and corporate ethics as well. But since it is superficial, viewers can’t help but scoff at it. Maybe the writers would have come up with a stronger script had they reduced the preachiness and stuck to the friendship and saving Green Park concept.
Unfortunately, to fit all the different ideas that they have, they end up making the movie too long and meandering. The Archies could do with a crisper edit and shorter runtime so as not to lose the viewer’s attention.
And then there is the whimsical world of The Archies. The vibrant, Anglo-Indian city called Riverdale is the ‘what if’ version of India had it been a British settler colony. To truly relish this cinematic universe, you’ll need to suspend belief. Picture the 60s Archies Comics, almost mirroring the Riverdale setup, only now transported to the colourful backdrop of India.
To set the mood, the film boasts an infectious and playful vibe, with its stylized visuals, retro costumes, swing dances and cinematography that practically moves across the screen, keeping viewers hooked while showcasing the entirety of Riverdale’s charm.
And oh, the music— it is a throwback to retro pop tunes that complement the film’s ambience, making them an essential addition to our modern-day Spotify playlists. ‘Dhishoom Dhishoom’ is the comic highlight with Jughead panicking that his best friend is about to be murdered by the girls as they sing on rollerblades.
Despite being newcomers, most of the lead actors do surprisingly well (Khushi we may need some more acting classes, girl, sorry). Even if they are awkward at parts, especially the big introduction party at Ronnie’s, it seems they are all enjoying themselves and that is what makes the viewers enjoy the film. The characters all feel familiar to Archies fans with inside jokes brought on screen such as Hiram’s irritation with Archie and Jughead’s love for food.
The Archies is all about life when it was simpler, making us nostalgic for our childhood days, hanging out with friends at the local park. There’s this naivety amongst the kids that everyone can relate such as Ronnie throwing a tantrum that her friends hate her only for her father to say – get new friends. Or Jughead being more in love with his sandwich than realising his friend’s feelings for him.
And in tune with that, all’s well that ends well in this tale. No one here is purely villainous; the story ties up on a high note, leaving a warm, fuzzy feeling behind. Despite having a star kid cast, it is an acceptable display of art, unlike other past debut stories which held no promise at all. Sure, it’s not flawless, but it’s undeniably entertaining. Peppered with some one-liners, stunning visuals, and an energy that practically leaps off the screen, The Archies is a treat.
Read More: The Archies Ending Explained
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Verdict - 5/10
5/10