Childrens Park

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                    The good thing about a film by Shafi-Raffi is that you go expecting a few good laughs. The bad thing is, when the laughs run out, you don’t have much else to fall back on.

‘Children’s Park’ is typical fare by the director-screenwriter brothers. Two friends, Dhruvan and Vishnu Unnikrishnan, are chasing after big money that they think is their due. They befriend Sharafudheen, a politician’s hanger-on, who promises to help. The film, according to the slogan is ‘the story of three idiots’ and their comic capers and attempts to run an institution form the crux of the film.

The first half is chock-a-bloc with laughs, but when the second half gets serious and stirs into message-territory, it seems too stretched out and long. The film would have benefitted immensely if it were shorter by about half an hour. Character portrayals are appropriate, particularly of the political figures. And the two guys who run a food shack are continually hilarious.

Dhruvan and Sharafudeen are competent, but it is Vishnu Unnikrishnan, who shines in the comic role. He steals the thunder in the scenes with the others. The girls don’t have too much of screen time and their characters almost feel like obligatory additions. ‘Children’s Park’ is a feel-good film and you leave with a nice feeling to see the ‘three idiots’ come good. It is apt fare for a festival release.