Waqt is an old-fashioned family cryathon that exaggerates every cliched emotion and situation to the hilt. It expects the viewers to either cry buckets or laugh their guts out. Unfortunately for the filmmaker, who clearly doesn't know the meaning of restraint, they might want to do neither.
Ishwar, a postman-turned-rich man (AB), is an over-indulgent father to an infantile, spoilt brat Aditya (Akshay). Why, he even hires a Rs 15 lakh chartered flight for his sonny dear's trip to Rajasthan. Then one fine day, Ishwar decides to make Adi (all of 27, married and set to have a baby) self-reliant by sending him off to earn his own living in a rather spacious (and convenient) outhouse next to the family bungalow. So while the son weeps and whines, the dad huffs and coughs his way to lung cancer. Both look superbly healthy, fit and photogenic through their individual ordeal. Waqt is a wannabe Karan Johar flick. But the choreography, sets and costumes all end up glaringly tacky than opulent. Imagine the heroine having a heated swimming pool in her AC bedroom! AB merrily sings and dances, indulges in cute banter with Akshay but most often he cries copious tears. The father-son interaction splutters now and then but largely lacks fizz. Akshay and Priyanka behave like asinine dimwits when playing spoilt kids, otherwise they too just cry. The comic track with Boman Irani and Rajpal Yadav works for a while but they quickly go over-the-top and, eventually, they too are made to do—what else but cry. All these tears put together don't bring a single lump to the viewer's throat. In fact, some emotional moments become hugely funny. Like when Priyanka encourages Akshay to become responsible: "Jhadoo lagao (pick up the broom) Adi". Even worse is the climax where Priyanka and AB are simultaneously wheeled into the hospital—all because Priyanka has to deliver a premature baby (the script demands it) just in time for the dying granddad to take a look. And he does.
INDIAN Top 5
1. Waqt: Race Against Time
2. Lucky: No Time for Love
3. Mumbai Express
4. Zeher
5. Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye
US Top 5
1. The Interpreter
2. The Amityville Horror
3. Sahara
4. A Lot like Love
5. Gong Fu
Courtesy: Film Information
