It’s rare to find an American comic book movie as innocent and nostalgic as the joyful Bollywood musical ‘The Archies.’ The film takes the familiar characters from ‘Archie’ comics and transports them to a fantasy version of 1960s India. What’s even more unusual is that it manages to be sincere and lighthearted without strictly adhering to the original comic’s simplistic visual style. Luckily, ‘The Archies’ doesn’t get bogged down by overthinking its purpose, which makes it a success.
The setting of ‘The Archies’ is the made-up town of Riverdale in Northern India, inspired by hill station villages such as McCluskieganj and Landour. Established in 1914 by Sir John Riverdale, this fictional town has become a representation of post-Independence India, known for its wealthy and lively Anglo-Indian population.
In “The Archies,” the young residents of Riverdale engage in innocent activities like singing, dancing, and pursuing romantic interests, just like in the original ‘Archie’ comics. They fret over whether Archie Andrews prefers Veronica or Betty, and come together to protect their town from modernization threats, such as a new hotel. The film explores Archie’s romantic dilemma and his potential move to London, despite his father’s objections. The outcomes may be unexpected, but ultimately trivial.
In “The Archies,” the young characters sing about politics, but the topics they discuss, like whether girls can wear mini-skirts or if schools can be co-ed, aren’t really relevant to Archie and his friends. Instead, they slowly realize, through familiar but uninspired scenes, that life offers more than just enjoying mango milkshakes and listening to British pop music. The film celebrates the youthful charm of its characters by portraying them as cute, silly, and mostly focused on themselves.
One might question if it’s sufficient, especially considering how a song like “Everything is Politics” doesn’t strongly align with the movie’s period setting. However, overall, it works. The film’s simplicity, evident in both its songs and dance routines, as well as its filmmaking, feels refreshing rather than lacking. Additionally, the movie’s approach of not overly complicating characters like Jughead or Moose is noteworthy—it treats their simplicity as a strength rather than a flaw. While Khan stands out in the talented cast, it’s because her character, like the others, is straightforward and easy to relate to.
It would have been interesting to see director Zoya Akhtar take more creative risks in both the visual style and the emotional depth of the movie, particularly in its theme of reconnecting with one’s community. However, originality has never been Akhtar’s main focus, as seen in her previous film “Gully Boy,” which also shines as a showcase for its actors. Not every genre film needs to be groundbreaking, a point highlighted by the cheesy material and characters in “The Archies” that it affectionately plays with. Sometimes, all you need for a good musical number is to let a teenage protagonist marvel at a group of rollerskating performers, dressed in retro attire, as they playfully interact with him.
It’s somewhat comforting to see how casually Zoya Akhtar and her team embrace their inspirations, both in terms of ideas and style. Occasionally, the characters’ movements or songs may remind viewers of iconic moments from shows like “Mad Men” or films like “Band of Outsiders.” However, these influences don’t overshadow the musical numbers, which maintain a straightforward approach in their look, design, and pacing. The lyrics are as direct as can be, focusing on themes like the battle of the sexes, with lines such as “Don’t you know that he’s just a flirt” countered by “Don’t you know that the flick in her eye is a trick for every guy.
It would have been intriguing if Archie’s band, which gives the movie its name, experimented with Bollywood-inspired music. Additionally, there’s value in songs that blend Hindi and English lyrics, like “You say I’m young and I’ve got nowhere to be, I say there’s so much I can do.” This line, along with much of “The Archies,” encourages viewers to appreciate simple joys. As one character puts it, echoing Jean-Luc Godard, “It’s not about appearance, it’s about emotion.
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Concept/Plot | “The Archies” is a joyful Bollywood musical that transports the characters from “Archie” comics to 1960s India, maintaining sincerity and lightheartedness without strictly adhering to the comic’s visual style. |
| Setting | The fictional town of Riverdale in Northern India, inspired by hill station villages, is established in 1914 by Sir John Riverdale, representing post-Independence India with its wealthy Anglo-Indian population. |
| Characters/Plot | The young residents of Riverdale engage in innocent activities and romantic pursuits, addressing trivial concerns like Archie’s romantic dilemma and potential move to London, despite his father’s objections. |
| Themes | While the characters sing about politics, the film celebrates the simple joys of life, portraying them as cute, silly, and self-absorbed. |
| Execution | Despite occasional mismatches like political songs in a period setting, the film’s simplicity in songs, dance routines, and character portrayal works well. |
| Director’s Approach | Director Zoya Akhtar’s approach lacks major creative risks but successfully embraces influences, reminiscent of iconic moments from other media. |
| Musical Style | It would have been interesting to see more Bollywood-inspired music from Archie’s band and a blend of Hindi and English lyrics, encouraging appreciation of simple pleasures. |
| Overall Appreciation | While lacking groundbreaking elements, the film’s affectionate portrayal of cheesy material and characters is enjoyable, focusing on simple joys and emotions. |
