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Archie. Veronica. Betty. Jughead. Reggie. Dilton. Ethel. Moose. If you’re familiar with Archie Comics or The CW’s seven season show, Riverdale, then you definitely know these characters and perhaps have gotten attached to them. Both are known for their high school antics, relationship drama, and overall lovable and memorable characters. But that’s not what we’re here to discuss because as it turns out, Netflix has worked with director Zoya Akhtar to bring us a brand new musical film, The Archies featuring the classic group of friends.
The film centers around Archie and the gang in the city of Riverdale, an Anglo-Indian community that began in 1914 and is now flourishing in the 1960’s. The group finds themselves juggling a love triangle, long-lasting friendships, and the threat of gentrification against their beloved park. The Archies stars a new generation of actors in India as our iconic cast of characters including Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor, Suhana Khan, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi “Dot” Saigal, Yuvraj Menda, and Rudra Mahuvakar.
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The Archies carries multiple storylines throughout the film but centers its focus on two specific stories: the inevitable love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica, and the impending closure and destruction of the town’s landmark park to make way for corporate gain. While both plot lines have completely different tones, Zoya Akhtar manages to gradually and effectively weave them both together to create a satisfying finale. And while a love triangle is something that generally feels predictable, it is still admirable in the way it handles the relationships between the various characters. Female friendship is respected and being a player with other girls is called out, no matter how one feels.
But what really pulls the film together is the exploration of gentrification for corporate benefit, a topic that is handled in a way that feels a bit on-the-nose but is still addressed with simplicity and grace. It can get messy, and it can turn relationships upside down based on which side one is on, which we see consistently amongst the friend group. But ultimately, lessons are learned, perspectives change, and the goal becomes the same. The Archies pulls its weight on the subject and invokes the spirit of today’s youth to relay a blatant message that is relevant to today’s current events. Even when all seems hopeless and change is impossible, the film reminds us to keep pushing on and to keep fighting.
Cinematically, The Archies is absolutely stunning with its attractive pastel aesthetic, picture perfect backdrops of greenery, and welcoming neighborhoods and shops. Not a single frame goes by without there being something to admire visually all throughout the film, and this even comes down to the costumes, hair, and makeup of every character. It’s certainly reflective of the time period it is set in and works perfectly with the cast as they pull off the stylistic choices with ease. If you’re a fan of the color palettes in films like The Grand Budapest Hotel or Marie Antoinette, then The Archies will certainly catch your eye as it quite literally feels like eye-candy.
But being that the Archies is a musical, one would hope there’s bound to be an amazing soundtrack attached to it. That is only partly the case as there were definitely a few too many songs than needed. Despite it being a musical, not every thought or moment needs to be in song. And unfortunately, because of the overload of music, The Archies suffers in having several numbers be completely unmemorable. However, that isn’t to say that the soundtrack is a total loss. In fact, there are songs throughout the film that stand out and are incredibly catchy, like the opening track “Sunoh” which introduces the audience to our main cast of characters as well as the charming town of Riverdale. And we can’t forget those memorable dance numbers like “Va Va Voom”, “Dhishoom Dhishoom”, and “Everything Is Politics” which push the story further along and uplift the messages and narratives of the film. And the cast of The Archies doesn’t hesitate in bringing their all when it comes to their musical and non-musical performances, pushing for a uniquely teenage feel.
Where the film mainly lacks, however, is bringing something new to the table when it comes to the ever iconic crew of characters from The Archies. Given that the film is set in an Anglo-Indian community, this would have been the opportunity to set itself apart from other renditions of these characters and attach more Indian culture to the story, aesthetics, and its characters. However, the majority of the film feels way more “Anglo” than it does Indian and makes you forget after the first ten minutes that The Archies is set in a fictional town located in India. Perhaps the only indication might be the fusion of Hindi and English dialogue or the realization that Suhana Khan is almost the spitting image of her father, Shah Rukh Khan. But frankly, that’s all you end up getting.
The Archies is definitely a movie that is easy to escape anyone’s radar. But if you’re looking for something lighthearted to watch this season or you’re looking for a way to help scratch that itch for your favorite Riverdale characters, perhaps consider watching this film. Not only does it expose us to a new generation of Indian actors, but it also gives us a fun version of the Archies characters while taking inspiration from the youth of today as they fight for justice in the world. And perhaps, you’ll end up like me and end up humming “Sunoh” every so often after watching.
Samosa Rating:
The Archies receives 4 out of 5 Samosas.
The Archies is now streaming on Netflix.
Runtime: 2hr 23m
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