Jane Austen's frequently filmed literary work, Pride and Prejudice, has always seemed a tad on the stuffy side, and now it's clear why: There weren't enough spontaneous song-and-dance numbers by Indians in drag. Fresh off the box-office success of Bend It Like Beckham, writer-director Gurinder Chadha remedies this problem.
Bride and Prejudice is a campy, vibrant, Bollywood version of the Austen classic. The story follows Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai), the bold but unassuming second daughter of an Indian family, who catches the eye of the affluent but ethnocentric Mr. Darcy (Martin Henderson), an American who can only win her after overcoming his titular pride and prejudice. Of course, other distractions keep the two from fulfilling their destiny, such as the appearance of the dashing but suspicious Johnny Wickham (Daniel Gillies), the meddling of an overzealous mother and the aforementioned dancing transvestites.
But the biggest obstacle in Lalita and Darcy's love affair is themselves, which is the greatest weakness of the film and its source material. Initially, the two would-be lovers refuse to express themselves verbally, preferring instead to exchange enough deep, meaningful stares for three romantic comedies. When they do speak, they make the dumbest statements, begging for misinterpretation. And finally, they refuse to grant each other the opportunity to explain themselves, when just a few words could set things right. In other words, it's the tired romantic comedy formula in its purest state.
Fortunately, the well-trodden story line is just a small part of Bride and Prejudice. The rest is an amusing look into Indian culture and family life, peppered with quirky characters and energetic musical interludes. As Lalita, Rai is as likable and magnetic as she is gorgeous—and she's been certified gorgeous, crowned Miss World 1994. Lalita's family is equally entertaining, consisting of three spunky sisters, a mother desperately trying to marry them off, and a father who's visibly weary of his wife's antics. And Nitin Chandra Ganatra nearly steals the show, hamming it up as a suitor from the darkest depths of every woman's nightmares.
Despite some of the cheesiest lyrics ever put to film, the intentionally campy musical numbers always manage to be fun and colorful. And Jane Austen could certainly benefit from some added fun and color.