Kalra bosses lead role in formulaic flick
Blinded by the Light (12A) ●●●
From biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman to fictional tales Yesterday and now this, the past 12 months have been a productive period for the musical-themed flick.
Blinded by the Light was inspired by the life of journalist Sarfraz Manzoor – who co-wrote the film - and his love of songs by Bruce Springsteen.
Set during late-80s Britain – in Luton, to be exact – Viveik Kalra ( Javed) stars as a teenager trying to find his own voice through the music of The Boss.
Writer- director Gurinder Chadha is no stranger to familyfriendly Brit- based comedy-dramas and fans of her previous outings Bend It Like Beckham and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging will find comfort in the familiar fluffy formula.
Others may prefer more meat on the storyline bones, though, as the troubles and woes holding Javed back wouldn’t exactly position him as a prime candidate for Freud or Jung’s couch.
But Kalra – making his big screen debut – is a captivating lead with oceans of charm; it helps that he can carry a tune too and the 20-year-old doesn’t tarnish Springsteen’s legacy.
It’s nice seeing Hayley Atwell (Ms Clay) in a non-Marvel role, albeit her writing teacher is so “inspirational movie 101” her character would probably give herself a C grade.
As you might expect, given its musical trappings, the general tone is upbeat and happy- golucky with more serious matters like class and cultures rather skirted over.
The film is at its best when Springsteen’s tunes fill the air and Chadha does a fine job of blending his lyrics – at times in animated form – together with appropriate on-screen developments.
Too long and formulaic, Blinded by the Light is far from the boss of musical movies; but it packs in enough magnetism to have you dancing in the dark... of the cinema.