It starts with a positive and impactful note. A realistic and light- hearted take on actual condition of gangsters and effect of recession on them. After 30 mins, it starts going downhill. Every side character except the 4 gangsters (Anni, Bhai Sahab and 2 fellow gangsters) looks forced, out of context, absurd and meaningless. By the time Neha Dhupia comes on the screen, you would want to switch it off. And once she starts delivering her dialogues, you would want to break the screen. Her character (Munni Madam) is the most cringe-worthy ever. Totally makes this movie another stupid piece of mainstream comedy with no originality. The ending is as unfunny as the later half of the movie, with a wannabe 'happy ending, everyone so happy yay' vibe. Go ahead if you want to get deceived by the ratings. By the end, you would have wasted your two hours on a stupid movie which you would forget in lesser time.

This movie is for all the movie lovers who feed on foreign language movies(not Hollywood/bollywood) for the fresh and refreshing plot and characters.Its a story about recession and how it affects the kidnapping business and the local goons. It has a short movie kind of treatment - a problem - an opportunity - and a fresh solution.The characters are memorable - partially because of the uniqueness and partially as they have been played by talented actors. Rajat Kapoor as usual fits in his role, Sanjay Misra is amazing in this movie too funny and he knows how to make a simple line hilarious. Neha Dhupia always does good to a strong character like she did in 'Ek challis ki last local'. Manu Rishi is memorable as Anni,(don't miss the English coaching class scene).One thing more that makes this movie funny is the background score/music. When a gangster is telling about the difficulties he is facing in kidnapping, when a son meets his father,etc. The music is perfectly placed. Few times bollywood make some sensible movies, and we should appreciate these.

Once again a short budget movie came with a surprise like 'Udaan, 'Tere Bin Laden' , etc. Brilliantly written and directed by Subash Kapoor. Fanatastic cast , each and every one was appropriate for the role. No forced comedy, , Fantastic characterization and very good Climax. Rajat Kapoor, Manu Joshi, Amol Gupte, Sanjay Mishra and Neha Dhupia all delivered effortlessly. Its absurdity is what struck me the most... some really out-n-out whacky moments there...and Am glad Sanjay Mishra finally got a lead role of sorts...... Even the cast with 1-2 scenes were very good especially English Class teacher . loved some of the dialogues ... recession ke time pe aati to wud have had much more impact......Watch it and you wont bedisappointed for sure ;)

Phas Gaye re Obama (PGRO) based at the time of the global economic recession, is the story of Om Shastri (Rajat Kapoor) who, once a successful business-man in the USA, is now broke and faced with the prospect of finding himself and his family without a home to live in. Left with no other choice he decides to visit India to sell his ancestral mansion and honor his financial obligations in the US. While the horrified attention of the world was fixated on badly faltering giant corporations, the little heard-of Kidnapping Industry in Om Shastri's village was going through times as rough as any other. Not only did the hostage's family reduce the ransom negotiation into a ridiculous Palika-Bazaar bargain they even asked back the kidnappers for loans. But as Om Shastri sets foot in his village kidnappers' sentiments soar as if Barack Obama himself had sanctioned a billion-dollar bail-out for this ailing industry. Through a series of hilarious plots Om Shastri touches the lives of several kidnapping gangs climaxing at the big-daddy of this Industry.Even though the plot of PGRO is virginal the concept has similarities to films like Khosla Ka Ghosla, 99, Sankat City, Ek Chalees Ki Last Local etc. in terms of the main protagonists getting unintentionally involved in the matters of the mafia, illegal money and through their ingenuous wits coming out unscathed and even richer on the other side.As is common to such films, PGRO also relies on well-crafted characters with ridiculous peculiarities and ironic scenes such as Mantriji (Amol Gupte) sacrificing a goat during the inauguration of a bridge while holding the portfolio of Ministry of Animal Welfare. The humor is restrained and at times subtle as opposed to cocky, laugh-out-loud wisecracks.Special mention for the background score that cleverly puts a variety of music ranging from 60's style Nirupa Roy-ish sitar twangs to Chak De India style exhorting crescendos to the most unexpected of scenes and characters.A slightly faster screenplay could have raised the prospects of PGRO's box-office success but if you are used to subtle humor then you will not complain.Quite liked the movie - 7 on 10.