大象传媒

When you hear of a Brit-Asian film shot in Brum, you really hope that it's going to be that breakthrough movie that heralds a new batch of British Asian talent we can all be proud of. But try as you might, there is nothing to recommend Don't Stop Dreaming. Singer Taz stars alongside Sunil Shetty and Michelle Collins in this embarrassingly hackneyed story of wannabe singers going for their dream. An unrivalled contender for the worst Brit-Asian film ever made.

Gabby (Sigga) hopes to follow in father Groovy's (Rishi Kapoor) footsteps and fulfill his unfinished dreams by becoming a singer in a band. She rounds up a posse of misunderstood misfits who share her dream, but the path to stardom is littered with obstacles, namely, a bank heist that goes horribly wrong, disbelieving parents and the negative influence of Saturn.

With a cast that comprises Bollywood C-listers, known British TV "stars", evidently with time on their hands, and a band of multi-ethnic "actors, " the worst of East and West combine for this fine example of how not to make a film. Technically it's flawed on every level, with poor camera work, inept editing and suspect lighting. The characterization, which veers firmly towards caricature, is further marred by gut-wrenchingly bad dialogue, a narrative that lacks any depth and stilted acting. Taz's soundtrack is possibly the only redeeming feature. Shame the same cannot be said for his acting, which is utterly cringe-worthy. But then, he's in good company.

"CHEAP, UNFUNNY AND CRUDE"

The cast of Don't Stop Dreaming will want to head for the hills, adopt a new identity and deny ever having any involvement in this film. Cheap, incompetent, unfunny and crude, the film's greatest achievement is that it ever got a cinema release.