By Taran Adarsh, May 16, 2003 - 16:16 IST

Reel Life Entertainment's STUMPED, directed by Gaurab Pandey, is supposedly a film based on India's favourite game – cricket. But, unfortunately, the film will neither appeal to cricket lovers or those looking for wholesome entertainment.

The World Cup cricket matches are on and some cricket crazy fans in a residential colony are praying for the Indian cricket team to emerge victorious. In this colony reside an army officer [Aly Khan] and his wife [Raveena Tandon].

The husband gets a call to report to Kashmir due to some heavy shelling from across the border. The remaining film runs on two tracks simultaneously – cricket and war.

What could've been an interesting film thanks to a novel idea gets ruined completely due to an unimaginative script and poor direction.

To begin with, the story runs on multiple tracks simultaneously – cricket and war – and at times, a situation like the one witnessed in EK CHHOTI SI LOVE STORY [a kid's attraction to an elderly woman]. Sadly, not a single facet really strikes a chord.

Depicting the craze for the World Cup much after the World Cup fever has died down, serves no purpose. Also, unlike LAGAAN, which actually depicted a match, in this film the match is mostly restricted to showing glimpses on television.