Last December Zoya Akhtar’s latest film “The Archies” was released on Netflix. After years of being stuck in development hell the film, based on the characters from the Archie comics, was finally available for all to watch. Yet, despite the extensive process that it took to bring the film to our screens what was released was lackluster, especially when compared to Akhtar’s impressive filmography.
Visually, the film paints a gorgeous picture transporting everyone to the fictional Anglo-Indian town of Riverdale in Northern India. From the production design, to the costumes, to the cinematography, Akhtar and her team create a beautiful world that is a blend of both 1950s USA and India. Akhtar’s skilled direction is also evident in the impressive and creative dance sequences, which also masterfully blend elements of classic 50s and 60s aesthetics with the typical Bollywood flair.
But it is the script on the other hand that is the biggest weakness of the film as it has nothing significant to say. The characters for the most part feel bland and dull, and the fact that there is such an ensemble of them doesn’t help any stand out. The themes and ultimate message of the film also feel lackluster and cliche; the unnecessary love triangle further makes ones eyes roll. The fact that the script wasn’t great didn’t help the actors either. The core group of protagonists were comprised of mostly newcomers (and quite a few were from well known film families) yet none stood out, though they each held their own in the dance sequences.
A point that was briefly mentioned and would have made a more interesting through line for the film was the characters’ and town’s identity as Anglo-Indian. Had that been explored, especially as the film is set in the 60s not too long after Indian independence from Britain, it could have made use of the Archie comics characters in a more interesting way.
All in all this film feels like a missed opportunity to create something truly unique that would have blended western and Indian elements in a new way. This is especially disheartening if we consider the interest in the Archie comics ignited by the popular teen show “Riverdale.” Nevertheless I’ll await what Zoya Akhtar releases next.
Written by Dafne Mistrangelo
