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'Going Dutch (2024)' is a classic punchline short, structured entirely around setting up its subversive final moment. There's an argument to be made that it could've been tightened up a little, edited down until it's laser-focused on its climactic joke. On the other hand, everything it does is necessary in making sure its final moment lands, and in that sense it's paced pretty well. For me, the strength of its joke is significantly undercut by its predictability, as it's the kind of final beat you clock on to a while before it actually occurs. I'd be surprised if most people watching weren't able to mouth along to the last line, to be honest. Still, that doesn't ruin the experience. It's a light, breezy and mildly funny effort that knows what it needs to do and does it well. It does feel like a bit of an excuse for its creators to have a holiday in Amsterdam, but that's hardly something that can be held against it. It's a solid, if relatively unremarkable, piece.

'I'm Not A Robot (2023)' is a short film about a woman who fails a CAPTCHA and begins to wonder if she's actually a robot. With a simple setup and a straightforward execution, the shooter succeeds primarily due to the naturalism of its writing and performances. It's engaging, if not all that fun or deep, and it doesn't outstay its welcome. In fact, it's abrupt ending leaves you wanting more, and the experience feels like something with could easily be expanded into a feature (and perhaps be better for it, provided the filmmakers could come up with a satisfying conclusion to the story they start here). As it is, it almost feels incomplete and as though it merely scratches the surface of the ideas it grapples with. Still, it's a well-made effort that's interesting and enjoyable. It's quietly funny and quietly scary. It's a solid short, even though it undeniably leaves you with the vague sense that it doesn't quite live up to its potential.

'3 Idiots (2009)' is the first proper Bollywood movie I've seen, even though I have seen the Hindi-language 'The Lunchbox (2013)', and it seems to be a pretty good place to start considering its general popularity, acclaim and relatively brisk runtime of just under three hours. The film is basically a satirical criticism of India's education system and the pressure put on students to becomes engineers, doctors, and other high-paid professionals rather than follow their dreams. Via a mixture of slapstick silliness, sincere melodrama, surprising darkness, and sidelined yet satisfying romance, the feature keeps you entertained for its duration, shifting and changing over time to deliver its message while also definitely making you laugh and maybe making you cry. It feels a little long and it's a bit baggy on occasion, but it never truly stagnates and it's engaging for its majority. It's utterly ridiculous at times, yet also features several really serious moments that threaten to give you tonal whiplash yet somehow don't. Its light moments work better than its heavy ones, yet everything lands to some extent and the flick typically walks its tonal tightrope really confidently. It's genuinely funny at times, and it's really endearing overall. It frequently puts a smile on your face and occasionally brings a tear to your eye, somehow remaining effective even as it becomes incredibly sappy (which often backfires and feels somewhat condescending or artificial). It only features two full-blown musical numbers, plus one montage set to a song and a brief in-universe strum-and-sing, but these are catchy, vibrant and energetic sequences that are really charming. I almost wish it featured more musical moments, closer to a traditional musical, because these scenes are so colourful and compelling. As a whole, this is a really well-made, well-acted, and enjoyable experience that has something to say but doesn't let that overwhelm its main purpose: entertainment. It's a lot of fun overall, and it crafts an atmosphere that makes you more inclined to forgive its issues (including some narrative messiness, tonal inconsistencies, and a handful of slightly iffy jokes). It's a great time, and it makes me want to explore more of what Bollywood has to offer. It's honestly pretty fantastic for what it is, flaws and all (is well).