Breakaway (2011)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have just won the big game against the Detroit Red Wings! And the star of the game is greeted by beautiful girls as he exits the arena and ...wakes up in a truck at this Uncle Sammy's Toronto company Speedy Singh Transport, as his devoutly Sikh father Darvesh expresses his disappointment in his lazy son, who was supposed to someday take over the company.Rajveer wants to play hockey, not drive a truck or run a company. But his father refuses to listen to his son, who gave up wearing the turban years ago, unlike his family and most of his friends. Rajveer's younger brother Gurveer continues to please his parents and appears willing to join the family business when he gets old enough, though his enthusiasm in the face of ridicule is beginning to fall apart.Uncle Sammy's cousin Reena is a TV news reporter for SIN, and she is getting married. Her fiancé is professional-looking and polite and appears willing to move up in the company. He is sarcastic toward Rajveer, happy to feel superior to this lazy bum but not really mean.Rajveer and his friends, all named Singh, play pickup hockey at the rink run by Dan. However, the Hammerheads, a Hyundai cup winning team, also use the rink and they want these "snake charmers" and "turbanators" to leave. Rajveer asks to try out for the team and the coach lets him, but of course the coach is unwilling to let Rajveer join the team.That's okay, though. Rajveer and his friends can form their own team and compete for the Hyundai cup. Dan, a former pro hockey player who didn't do too well, can be their coach.Meanwhile, Rajveer meets Dan's pretty sister Melissa, a law student who cares about protecting people who are unfairly treated, who is waiting outside to give Dan a ride. It is clear from the time they meet that she and Rajveer will become a couple. And their first date (or is it a date?) at Mr. Patel's restaurant has predictable results. The Punjabi hockey team is a big hit with people who trace their heritage to India, and there are many of them in the Toronto area. They're not that good at first, but support is outstanding. Uncle Sammy figures out what is going on and is happy to sponsor the team now called Speedy Singhs, provided enough money can be raised from other sources. But Rajveer's father cannot find out his son is actually playing.And there's one big obstacle. Helmets are usually required in order to play hockey, but most of Rajveer's team wear Sikh turbans and they refuse to compromise.So will this team succeed? Especially against their arch enemies, the Hammerheads?This is a good movie, just for the hockey story. But we are treated to a close look at the Sikh culture, including a traditional wedding with the music, dancing and colorful costumes. There is the usual conflict found in movies such as this between tradition and modern life. Most of the leading actors do a good job. There are several actors I won't name who seem to be reading their lines about half the time, but both of them are good enough in other scenes and it's merely a distraction when they aren't.There's plenty of humor here, particularly from people whose family came from India.I really like Rajveer and Melissa together. They have the expected ups and downs but work really well as a couple. Rob Lowe does a good job as the coach. At first he doesn't seem to stand out much, but as time goes on he really shows that he is one of the leading actors in the business.Anupham Kher does an outstanding job as a father who goes from disappointed to proud to ... well, I won't say what happens. Just know he does an amazing job.Mr. Patel is another standout character.One of the best scenes involves an old man telling a young boy about the Sikh culture. This scene proves crucial to the success of the hockey team. It's a worthy effort.

Hats off... fun 2 watch...kind of unique... "INDIA n SINGHS" rocks across d world!!!!We liked Breakaway - sure it's pretty much lightweight sports comedy but its heart is the right place and it was fun.I guarantee this movie will be make it big, even if it's being treated with some disdain in Canada.Here's why:1. There's a reason why Russell Peters is currently the number one selling comedian in the world. The global diaspora of Indian populations in the UK, the US, South Africa, Dubai, not to mention India itself will buy this. 2. No other country on earth has as many cinemas and cinema goers (and not downloaders, but real paying cinemas with seats and people) as India and they love movies that celebrate their culture abroad. 3. The UK has a huge following for Peters and this: Peters sold out Wembley Stadium for three nights twice, and Indian TV is huge this is going to run and run on subscription TV channels forever. 4. It's a fun, innocent, sport movie - and people like that worldwide......

I can not impress upon you how bad this film is. I love sports films, the cliché, the false emotion, all of it. This film though takes the worst of the sports films and says, 'can we make one worse?' And yes, they can, and did. When the best acting in the film was Rob Lowe you are in serious trouble. Did they just pull random people off the street to act? And really the dialogue? Was the script written as a grade 6 project? Even Russell Peters (who is usually hilarious) was horribly unfunny. The most interesting part of the film was learning about the reason for the turban. Unfortunately that should not be the best part.In short unless you were in the film, or you know someone in it don't waste your time, just sit and stare at your hand for 90 minutes, you'll get more enjoyment.

My rating and review is strictly based on dubbed Hindi version. There are two kind of audience to this movie. One, who have seen Patiala House(PH); and second, who have not. Movie carries a lot from Akshay kumar's PH. Change the cast, remove cricket and add Ice hockey & insert a friendly uncle instead of cousins and you get Breakaway. It also carries the same flaws that PH had. The plot has so much to deal with that its neither a full patriotic sports movie like Chak de, India! nor a family/love story like PH or Apne. Most of the comic situations are lost in translation. I hope that Russell peters' joke must have been good because I couldn't get a laugh in dubbed version. Most disappointing fact was that someone else(probably Raju kher) did the voice-over for Anupam kher.All in all watch it ONLY if you have access to Breakway and steer clear of Dubbed version, Speedy Singhs.