Cast: Arshad Warsi, Dia Mirza and Boman Irani
Director: Kabeer Kaushik
Hum Tum Aur Ghost
Hum Tum Aur Ghost, starring Arshad Warsi as a guy who can see and hear dead people, is intended as a light-hearted comedy. Unfortunately the script -- credited to Arshad himself, and evidently inspired from the Hollywood rib-tickler Ghost Town -- drains out much of the fun that could be had with this promising premise.
The screenplay, to begin with, takes too long to arrive at the core conflict, which involves Arshad's character -- Armaan, a photographer in Newcastle -- agreeing to help two good-natured spirits fulfill their final wishes. But before the film even gets to that point, nearly an hour or so is devoted to establishing the relationship between Armaan and his incredibly patient girlfriend Gehna (played by Dia Mirza).
Girlfriends like Gehna are hard to find. She sticks faithfully by her man even though he's a compulsive alcoholic, he's way too friendly with his female assistant and, as a psychiatrist later tells her, he might be schizophrenic too! Gehna has a full-time job as the editor of a fashion glossy, but you rarely see her doing any work. On the odd occasion that you catch her at her workplace, she's either arguing with her boyfriend or discussing her relationship status with her father. No wonder she can roll out her stroller and set off without so much as a leave application when Armaan asks her to join him on a trip to Goa to search for the missing child of a spirit he's promised to help.
Hum Tum Aur Ghost,suffers primarily on account of its inconsistent tone. The film might have worked as an irreverent comedy, but much of it is treated as an emotional drama, resulting in several contrived scenes that fall flat on their face. Even the humour works mostly when it's done smartly and subtly, and not as effectively in the film's slapstick portions -- like the one in which Armaan disguises himself and visits a bank, only to be confronted by the son of the very man he is impersonating.
Ultimately the film is predictable and tiring because it's an interesting idea that's been stretched way beyond its potential. The usually dependable Arshad Warsi delivers a few light moments, and Boman Irani as a friendly ghost helps muster up a couple of laughs. But director Kabeer Kaushik, who gave us the gripping cop drama Sehar, doesn't seem to have the light-handed touch required to turn this flimsly concept into a fun-filled ride.
I'm going with a generous two out of five for Hum Tum Aur Ghost, Ironically, what's missing in this film is spirit!
Rating: 2 / 5
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