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Heather Graham,
Heather Graham,
Marisa Tomei,
more...
:
Daisy von Scherler Mayer,
Daisy Von Scherler Mayer
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Universal Studios
: Comedies, Foreign, British Comedy, UK
: 95 min.
: English, Spanish, French
: Spanish, French
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A visitor from the mysterious East arrives in New York -- not to offer the wisdom of the ages, but to make it big as a dancer in this "fish-out-of-water" comedy. Ramu Chandra Gupta (Jimi Mistry) grew up in India on a steady diet of movie musicals, particularly local Bollywood spectaculars and vintage American song-and-dance films. Ramu grew up with the dream of one day making it big as a dancer, and in time he found a job as a dance instructor. However, Raimu believes his destiny lies in the United States, and he leaves India behind to relocate to New York City. Unfortunately, Ramu's bright new future isn't exactly awaiting him, and he's soon sharing an overstuffed apartment with distant relatives in Queens while working in an Indian restaurant. An audition for a film director named Dwain (Michael McKean) turns out to be a tryout for a porno movie -- a role Ramu does not get when he fails to rise to the occasion. However, he does make the acquaintance of one of Dwain's "starlets," Sharona (Heather Graham), with whom he soon finds himself infatuated. Ramu gets a job entertaining guests at a party catered by his relatives when the performer originally booked is incapacitated. While Ramu's Bollywood-style dancing goes over well enough, he makes a deeper impression on Lexi (Marisa Tomei), an enthusiastic but half-bright student of Eastern philosophy who regards Ramu a font of wisdom as well as a hot date. Ramu quickly becomes the toast of New York's upper crust, and scores an agent, Josh (Rob Morrow), but how long will it be before folks realize Ramu is rather low on the enlightenment scale? And can he find happiness with Sharona while Lexi is still in the picture? The Guru also features Christine Baranski and Malachy McCourt. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| Made Me Squirm a Little
by squad
July 6, 2004 - 5:14 PM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| "The Guru" compared to the Bollywood films I have seen impressed me first with its production values. It may seem shallow, but focus and bright colors go a long way for me. This is unavoidably a sexual movie given the porn star leading role, and somehow porn just makes me squirm a little when juxtaposed with the lives of people working in the industry who are just trying to get by. But it is an issue, and here is dealt with problematically. That said, the film really takes some good jabs at the guru game, high society, media hype, and the green-card run-around. Add to that the romantic comedy formula, a couple or three brief Bollywood dance numbers, and a Hollywood ending, with just a touch of gayness. So if you are a Bollywood fan who has been through the guru mill and have visited the odd porn offering here or there and, face it, have sexual issues of your own, then "The Guru" will push some buttons, make your feet tap, and tickle your funny bone as well. |
| Some good moments, but it didn't work
by kamapuaa
August 13, 2003 - 4:25 PM PDT
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4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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The basic premise of the movie is a cross-cultural comedy between India and the US. One one side are bored sophisticates who buy into self-help, and mystify everything Indian. On the other side are Indians whose American Dreams aren't realistic. Along the way, Bollywood musicals get satirized.
It hardly screams success, and so these elements are backpedaled, to make way for the romance between Heather Graham and Jimi Mistry.
It goes almost without saying that the cross-cultural confusion angle isn't terribly amusing. India doesn't capture the popular imagination the way it did in the late 60's, and so the satire of the guru's babble being taken as gospel seems cliched and forced. And Bollywood musicals are one step away from Hong Kong fight scenes - they're just too unpretentious yet goofy to effectively satirize (although "Dil Chahta Hai" did a pretty good job). In addition, the satire of the guru and the Indian characters were pretty shallow - perhaps the director didn't want to scare off those who don't know anything more than Apu about India?
However, the movie had some likeable elements. Heather Graham is cute (although the melodrama is 100% predictable). The 5 seconds of "Good Will Humping" were funny. The male lead's friends had a good rapport. There were a couple good lines. So it wasn't terrible, but I don't see a reason to see this movie over "Bollywood/Hollywood." |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 5.91)
54 Votes
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