Picture Perfect

Here's something you don't see everyday: a Bollywood musical remake of a Jennifer Aniston movie. But unlike the insipid original, this Picture Perfect is a genuinely funny and entertaining film. When Pooja (the gorgeous Kirti Reddy) meets the artist Kabir (the dashing Abhishek Bachchan) on a trip to Agra, she is attracted to his work—but he assumes she is in love with him. Actually, she is secretly in love with Raj, the son of her boss Mr. Oberoi, but when Mr. Oberoi becomes upset over Pooja's being chronically late for work, her zany coworker Maggi covers for her by claiming that Pooja is distracted since she became engaged to Kabir. How can Pooja work around that fib and find a way to get Raj to notice her? Admittedly, it is a dumdum comic plot, but the attractive ensemble cast has wonderful comic timing and never wear out their welcome as the story goes through various contrivances. And, yes, there are the Bollywood brand of over-the-top musical numbers interspersed throughout, which is why the film is nearly three hours long, but filmmaker A. Muthu's Picture Perfect moves so quickly with such a sunny disposition that it doesn't feel as if one frame is wasted. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)