Thumbs up,
by Smrity Sharma,

Bollywood Life
:

…The Archies is the perfect winter watch. Christmas and New Year is round the corner and The Archies is an easy entertaining watch that you can enjoy with that hot chocolate. It comes as the much-needed breath of fresh air at a time when gore, violence and crime thrillers are ruling the big screens and the OTT space. The young star kids and the other actors have done a great job and their performances are a delight to watch….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Rahul Desai,

Film Companion
:

…Maybe the visual artifice is supposed to be a character in a town that’s learning to flaunt its flesh and blood. Except, it feels like The Truman Show where nobody is in on the gag. The environmental angle makes you wonder if, by saving the trees, the teens end up denying publishers the paper to print comics on – thereby erasing their own existence….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Devesh Sharma,

Filmfare
:

…Watch the film for the dose of nostalgia that it provides. It makes you yearn for your school/college days and for a life which was simple yet perfect….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Murtuza,

Filmi Beat
:

…Overall, The Archies is a refreshing, feel-good movie with some newcomers who have performed well. You can chill and watch it on Netflix.

Read more at: https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/reviews/2023/the-archies-review-ratings-suhana-khan-khushi-kapoor-agastya-nanda-zoya-akhtar-movie-beautiful-film-376737.html?story=2…

full review

Thumbs up,
by Lachmi Deb Roy,

FirstPost
:

…The pop-culture of the Archie comic had influenced the Indian convent school going kids of that era as much as it did the kids of America….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Vijayalakshmi Narayanan,

Free Press Journal
:

…Setting that aside, there isn’t a single false note that can be pinpointed in the performances delivered by the film’s young cast. Agastya effortlessly embodies Archie, a character that occasionally flirts, infusing idealism with his charm. Dot., as Ethel, is delightfully ambitious, and her character resonated with me the most. Vedang effectively portrays the neighborhood heartthrob Reggie, while Mihir, as Archie’s bro-dude Jughead, is hilariously on point. Suhana is aptly yet unconventionally cast as Veronica, a daddy’s princess with a heart. Khushi embodies the perfect girl-next-door who loves to bake. However, my favorite performance has to be Yuvraj as Dilton, the genius whose moment of truth will leave you deeply moved….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Baradwaj Rangan,

galatta.com
:

…The Archies is overlength. At some two hours and twenty minutes, the film qualifies as a… Double Digest, and the second hour suffers a little because of the pacing and the ending we see coming from a mile away. But the old-world charm works big-time, especially with cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis’s bright, butter-soft frames. I would have loved to see The Archies on a big screen.. Read more at: https://www.galatta.com/hindi/movie/review/the-archies/…

full review

Thumbs up,
by Aseem Sharma,

India TV
:

…Since The Archies is a teen musical comedy, the film’s songs and background score are something one must be excited about. Tracks like ‘Sunoh’ and ‘Va Va Voom’, strongly connect with the film’s storyline. These songs, with lyrics written by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar, blend seamlessly, which adds depth and emotion to the story. They bind you to the characters’ journeys of reuniting, partying together, and fighting for the same cause, which ultimately enhances the overall experience of the movie. The background score also plays a key element that beautifully complements the storytelling in The Archies….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Rohan Naahar,

indian express
:

…“The grass is green where you water it.” He goes from being a vocally apolitical ‘loafer’ to spearheading a Salim-Javed-style movement against the razing of everybody’s favourite local park — perhaps a reference to the controversial construction projects at Mumbai’s Aarey Forest, which in turn would make it a sneaky tip of the hat to the late Jawaharlal Nehru. As Akhtar makes clear in a musical sequence midway through the movie, “Everything is politics.”…

full review

Thumbs up,
by Mayank Shekhar,

MiD DAY
:

…And teenagers, chiefly, are obviously the target audience for this film—pushed by Netflix, globally, in a way that no Indian content has been, to this scale. Mustn’t let expectations interfere with the experience….

full review

Thumbs up,

Movie Talkies
:

…The Archies is a mixed bag; as Betty says, “We all get good and bad in our lunchbox.” But try it; you might get your part of “good.”…

full review

Thumbs up,
by Saibal Chatterjee,

NDTV
:

…India’s attainment of Independence and the death of its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru – neither of the two signposts of Indian history is specifically mentioned – were separated by 17 years. And that is the age of the younger characters in the film. They are as old as the free nation that they are ready to fight for….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Dishya Sharma,

News18.com
:

…The film could have also been a tad bit shorter. Some scenes like Betty finding out about Veronica and Archie could have been written tighter. By the time the film reaches the climax, you are already zoning out of it. The climax is also done in a bit of a hurry and is predictable. With The Archies, it is evident that Zoya had a lot in store for the young generation and wanted to balance out every character but the task of it took a toll on the overall story….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Rishil Jogani,

Pinkvilla
:

…The Archies is another masterfully crafted Zoya Akhtar directorial that boasts of some impressive performances by the debutants. The basic plot and conflict however limits its scope of being something that stands out. On the whole, The Archies is a heartwarming flick that celebrates love and friendship….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Sukanya Verma,

Rediff
:

…The Archies is a paean to simpler, softer times. Zoya never loses sight of that.

When it’s time to stir people out of their apathy, it’s not an adrenalin-pumping rock and roll anthem but a serene ballad of hope dipped in her poet dad Javed Akhtar’s optimism — Yeh Saari Awaazein Kirney Ban Jayengi. Kirnein Jo Duniya Mein Nayi Roshni Layengi that draws people to do the right thing.

It’s an evergreen thought passed on from generation to generation. And so are The Archies.

Only wish it had some of the comic’s tee-hee humour and hyuk hyuk too.

ADVERTISEMENT…

full review

Thumbs up,
by Shreya Tinkhede,

Times Now
:

…No doubt the film is beautiful, but it also feels too good to be true at a few moments. The actors at a certain level lacked good dialogue, and a ‘few’ half-heartedly written plots make it less appealing. The makers did a good job of squeezing all the Archies-style elements in two hours, and full marks for the sincere attempt, but a little precision would have hurt none….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Pooja Talwar,

Zee News
:

…The film which is designed as a Broadway musical gets its soul from the compositions of Shankar Ehsaan and Loy which are rhythmic and melodious, getting the vibe of the 60’s, a time when Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Cliff Richards had us dancing to their tunes….

full review

So-So,
by Abhimanyu Mathur,

DNA
:

…But The Archies remains one of Zoya’s weakest films. It is feel-good and filled with nostalgia but does lacks the depth that some of her previous works have. Her films have always had good rewatch value. I am not so sure if I want an encore of The Archies though. It was a nice little treat that made me feel good for a little while. But not good enough to entice me again. What irks me is how better it could have been….

full review

So-So,
by Prannay Pathak,

Hindustan Times
:

…Agastya Nanda puts in earnest work to make this Archie seem less unfeeling, but he is overshadowed by Vedang Raina (Reggie), who has a Ranveer Singh energy about him. Khushi Kapoor as Betty doesn’t feel overawed at all in her acting debut where she has to compete with the prima donna Veronica. Suhana Khan essays the latter with a careful balance of over-the-top and rich-kid confidence, at times even betraying the flair of her real-life father, Shah Rukh Khan….

full review

So-So,
by Bhavana Agarwal,

india today
:

…Adapting a story is a daunting task, and while we commend Zoya and Reema for their effort, will ‘The Archies’ reach the global acclaim achieved by ‘Squid Game’ for South Korea? Only time will tell! Catch ‘The Archies’ on Netflix….

full review

So-So,
by lekha Menon,

Khaleej Times
:

…The musical numbers are well-choreographed and the production design and colour palette have a distinct comic book feel. All these elements make the film exude a warm, cosy energy which is sweet but not enough to make up for the lack of a compelling story….

full review

So-So,
by Prateek Sur,

Outlook India
:

…‘The Archies’ is definitely not a cup of tea for everyone. It’s not a one size fits all. If you’re not into the Western musical structure of films, this will bore the heck out of you. The young actors are promising. The direction does lack the punch that Zoya Akhtar usually has. But overall, for the ones who’re familiar with the ‘High School Musical’ sort of movies, this is still an Average Watch. I am going with 2.5 stars….

full review

So-So,
by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA,

Scroll.in
:

…The biggest strength – and the real stars – are the production design, costumes, cinematography, art direction, choreography and locations. Under Akhtar’s direction, the elements integrate to build an immersive and idyllic backdrop. Nostalgia might not hit home, but there is enough novelty here to hold interest….

full review

So-So,
by Shilajit Mitra,

The Hindu
:

…As Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, and Khushi Kapoor, daughter of producer Boney Kapoor, make their respective entries in Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, the sunny opening number ‘Sunoh’ welcomes them in. In fact, in a supremely unsubtle gesture, the words ‘suhani’ and ‘khushi’ ring out on the track…

full review

So-So,
by Dhaval Roy,

Times of India
:

…The movie loses steam in the second half and could have been more engaging as the conflict escalates. Solutions are convenient, and the resolution is trifling. Overall, while the era, the look and feel have been created well, the movie ends up a tad underwhelming. What is delightful is watching a bunch of fresh new faces put their best food forward – whether for emoting on screen or doing some rock n roll the 60s tunes….

full review