Don't blame the makers of this film for their lack of originality. I wouldn't have thought to turn a Jane Austen novel into a Bollywood musical by way of tacky anachronism. Then again, I wouldn't have told anyone if I had the idea in the first place. It's strange, there is a name for people who think things like this are a good idea, and usually they're called producers.

Gurinder Chadha made a pretty decent, albeit cutesy film with Bend It Like Beckham, but let's just call this the sophomore slump. In Bride & Prejudice Chadha is too overwhelmed by the beautiful colors, costumes, and actresses (which I think are the proverbial rose-colored glasses the audience is intended to view the film through as well) to notice the dialogue has all the virtuousness of a colicky infant on an international flight. It's stilted, pretentious and most of all silly when it is intended to show actual heartfelt emotion. This effect is similar to the one Martin Henderson (Darcy) has on the rest of the cast. Sure, I kind of like the guy, though given his catalog (Torque) I'm not sure why. I think I appreciate him on a visceral level.

Aishwarya Rai, who has been spoken of as being, "the most beautiful woman in the world," adds the key ingredient to an otherwise awful stew: quality. She is not only lovely, she is also talented and wonderful in every scene she inhabits. She would be one thing Hollywood could benefit from importing.