Comedy, as said, is a serious business. Therefore, 'horror-comedy' in its 'thrills' and 'tickles' may be considered a feat of its own.
Enough with the definitions; but actually, that's where all the fun begins. Based on the early 2000's "Nale Ba" mysteries ('come tomorrow' in Kannada), we're introduced to a ridiculously true phenomenon - the fable of "Stree" (here 'the ghost-lady'). The spirit fearfully haunts the sub-urban town of Chanderi during a festival every year. The simple townsfolk paint " O Stree, Kall Aana!" outside their homes to protect exclusively their young men from the ghastly abductions.
Enter - an uber-good looking ladies tailor (Rajkummar Rao "Newton") who in his pursuit of one, true-calling falls for a mysterious looking lady customer (Shraddha Kapoor "ABCD 2"). Enter his 2 friends (Aparshakti Khuraana "Dangal" and Abhishek Bannerjee "TVF Pitchers") - who half-doubt and half-worry over their lover-boy's new found lady. Come along a Pundit ji (a "paranologist" - dealing in macabre and historical paranormal tales; played by Pankaj Tripathi "Newton") who spreads free-knowledge to the spooked-up on ways of avoiding Stree.
Wandering plot so far, isn't it? As those abductions continue these characters come together to attempt saving all from Stree - who by now means "serious business" (pun and no-pun intended). Whilst digging deep with them, we come across more sinister reasons behind the origins and the doom of "warring the witch."
In its humble clumsiness, "Stree" is smart-entertainer throughout. Dialogues (Sumit Arora "24") and the Direction (debutant Amar Kaushik) work a lethal combo in making its sequences ROFL funny and genuinely scary. Though, the film on a whole lacks tempo, often deliberating with its excellently casted ensemble (Shiv Chauhan and Ashish Khare "Daddy") but underuses its characters barring the leading man. There are carefully written scenes for highlighting all the good, but not enough to cover plot-predictability and unreasonable filler portions.
Thankfully, the narrative manages to keep one curious enough for the next. The music and songs (including promo-chartbusters such as "Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe" and the beautifully lyricized but, underappreciated "Dill ka Darzi") are passable; however, the film certainly isn't. Amidst liberal usage of innuendoes along with subtle adult-humour, the film surprisingly emerges as a "mass/family entertainer". So, it hurts a little to say that "Stree" might have been an A-list "hor-com" film.
For the ones who haven't yet watched it, could look forward to a balance between slapstick and old-school humour. A value-for-money, 2 hours of enjoyable theatre-time. Going with 7/10.
Enough with the definitions; but actually, that's where all the fun begins. Based on the early 2000's "Nale Ba" mysteries ('come tomorrow' in Kannada), we're introduced to a ridiculously true phenomenon - the fable of "Stree" (here 'the ghost-lady'). The spirit fearfully haunts the sub-urban town of Chanderi during a festival every year. The simple townsfolk paint " O Stree, Kall Aana!" outside their homes to protect exclusively their young men from the ghastly abductions.
Enter - an uber-good looking ladies tailor (Rajkummar Rao "Newton") who in his pursuit of one, true-calling falls for a mysterious looking lady customer (Shraddha Kapoor "ABCD 2"). Enter his 2 friends (Aparshakti Khuraana "Dangal" and Abhishek Bannerjee "TVF Pitchers") - who half-doubt and half-worry over their lover-boy's new found lady. Come along a Pundit ji (a "paranologist" - dealing in macabre and historical paranormal tales; played by Pankaj Tripathi "Newton") who spreads free-knowledge to the spooked-up on ways of avoiding Stree.
Wandering plot so far, isn't it? As those abductions continue these characters come together to attempt saving all from Stree - who by now means "serious business" (pun and no-pun intended). Whilst digging deep with them, we come across more sinister reasons behind the origins and the doom of "warring the witch."
In its humble clumsiness, "Stree" is smart-entertainer throughout. Dialogues (Sumit Arora "24") and the Direction (debutant Amar Kaushik) work a lethal combo in making its sequences ROFL funny and genuinely scary. Though, the film on a whole lacks tempo, often deliberating with its excellently casted ensemble (Shiv Chauhan and Ashish Khare "Daddy") but underuses its characters barring the leading man. There are carefully written scenes for highlighting all the good, but not enough to cover plot-predictability and unreasonable filler portions.
Thankfully, the narrative manages to keep one curious enough for the next. The music and songs (including promo-chartbusters such as "Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe" and the beautifully lyricized but, underappreciated "Dill ka Darzi") are passable; however, the film certainly isn't. Amidst liberal usage of innuendoes along with subtle adult-humour, the film surprisingly emerges as a "mass/family entertainer". So, it hurts a little to say that "Stree" might have been an A-list "hor-com" film.
For the ones who haven't yet watched it, could look forward to a balance between slapstick and old-school humour. A value-for-money, 2 hours of enjoyable theatre-time. Going with 7/10.