I’ve always made it abundantly clear that no matter the film, if I decide to watch it, the last thing I will do is go in with the expectation to hate it. Unfortunately, I feel that many audience members of The Archies have gone in with the intention to rip on the ‘nepo’ kids from start to finish. 

Before diving into my thoughts on The Archies, let’s get a little background. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the film is an adaptation of the beloved Archie comics, set in a fictional, Anglo-Indian community in 1960s India. The casting of Bollywood’s nepo babies—Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda, and Khushi Kapoor—sparked a mix of excitement and skepticism. With Bollywood’s nepotism debate in full swing, The Archies found itself under intense scrutiny even before its release.

Now, onto the review. I won’t lie when I say this wasn’t the easiest watch. I found myself disconnecting, pausing for days, and coming back to it for many reasons. It didn’t have the best start—the narrative began feeling almost directionless and brought these characters to the screen in a lacklustre fashion. The performances weren’t anything to write home about, and I will say Suhana’s accent did catch me wildly off guard.

But let’s mention some pros. This is a Zoya Akhtar film at the end of the day. While this is definitely not her best work, I think she comes up shorter as a writer than a director. Zoya has brought forth a visual eye-pleaser. Great production design, stunning costumes, fabulous choreography, and a cute supporting cast. This, however, is offset by mediocre, tropey writing that over-Americanizes a story about Indians trying to stay true to their Anglo-Indian culture. I don’t think I see some of these actors as the characters they were casted in and that may just be me… or my exposure to Riverdale in Western media… also not great, but curse Camila Mendes for genuinely being the perfect Veronica Lodge.

The film really picks up in its second half, where I began to accept that this is a coming-of-age, feel-good film for kids! Let’s just roll with the punches and plot holes, accept that it’s a film with debut stars, and see where things go! That’s what I did and I ended up smiling. With all things considered though, were the nepo kids excellent in The Archies? No, not by any means. Do they have potential in the Indian film industry? I wanna say yes! Do we want nepo kids to take the jobs? Obviously not. Will they? Yes! So let’s appreciate the good about them when we have no choice but to! Do I make sense? Partially? Good.

A key issue with the film is that it tries too hard to balance between staying true to the essence of the Archie comics and adapting it to an Indian setting. The result is a somewhat confused narrative that doesn’t quite hit the mark. The first half is particularly challenging, with scenes that feel dragged out and characters that don’t immediately endear themselves to the audience. However, Zoya Akhtar’s direction ensures that there are moments of visual brilliance, and the setting is richly detailed, capturing the retro charm of the 1960s.

The performances, as mentioned, are a mixed bag. Suhana Khan, playing Veronica Lodge, has her moments but struggles with an inconsistent accent. Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews and Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper give decent performances, but they lack the charisma needed to fully bring these iconic characters to life, with Khushi making me feel more as if I’m watching her do a Betty Cooper impression as herself. The supporting cast, however, does a commendable job, adding much-needed depth and humor to the film.

One of the film’s strengths is its music. The soundtrack is filled with catchy tunes that complement the vibrant, nostalgic atmosphere. The dance sequences are well-choreographed and add a lively energy to the film. These moments, combined with the visually appealing production design, make The Archies a treat for the eyes and ears, if not always for the heart and mind. “Va Va Voom” is consistently stuck in my head, it may be my ‘Roman Empire’ heading into 2024. 

Despite its flaws, the film manages to evoke a sense of nostalgia for those familiar with the Archie comics. It also attempts to address themes of identity, friendship, and the struggles of adolescence, albeit in a somewhat superficial manner. For younger audiences or those new to the world of Archie, the film offers a light-hearted, visually appealing introduction.

Overall, The Archies isn’t great, but it’s not bad and it’s worth a watch if you grew up on Archie comics or make up the younger demographic that this is made for. I will say though… It’s way too long! So break it up into multiple sittings if ya need to. I promise the film community won’t shame you.