Nov 06, 2010 04:03 PM
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(Updated Nov 06, 2010 04:08 PM)
The Akshay Kumar-Vipul Shah jodi is back with yet another flick, Action Replayy, that looks as exciting as their previous films. A great concept adapted from a successful play, funky music, 70s era, big stars…what more can one ask for? Better script I would say! Action Replayy had the ability to be a rocking entertainer but unfortunately doesn’t reach there. Nevertheless, the film also doesn’t leave you outright disappointed. The performances, songs and numerous individual funny moments ensure you leave the theatre with a smile!
The story of the movie: Bunty (Aditya Roy Kapur) and Tanya (Sudeepa Singh) are in love with each other. Tanya wants to get married but Bunty hates the ‘M’ word. He has seen his parents Kishen (Akshay Kumar) and Mala (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) fighting with each other every now and then. Bunty has thus developed a phobia for marriage. At this point, Tanya introduces Bunty to her grandfather Anthony Gonsalves (Randhir Kapoor), a scientist who has developed a time machine. This provides Bunty with an incentive to time-travel and go back 35 years to add some sparkle and love in Kishen and Maya’s relationship. Bunty thus lands up in 1975 in the then Bombay. It was a time when Kishen was a nerd. When Mala was her neighbor and a reckless tomboy who loved ragging Kishen with her pal Kundanlal (Rannvijay). When Kishen’s dad Rai Bahadur (Om Puri) and Mala’s mom Bholi Devi (Kirron Kher) were sworn enemies. Bunty has a difficult mission-he has to transform his father from a loser to a winner and most importantly, an eligible bachelor and his mother into a feminine, charming lady. Not to forget, he’s in the era where love marriage is looked down upon. He has to convince Kishen’s dad and Mala’s mom for the lovebirds’ marriage. He has to anyhow succeed or else the possibility of his getting born will be bleak!
Action Replayy begins just like any 70s flick-titles in large block colourful font with a loud score in the background. The initial scenes itself show Akshay, Ash, Rannvijay and Neha in old, worn-out look which was very impressive. The entire time machine sequence immediately reminds one of the film Love Story 2050. The film gets better when Bunty goes back in time and lands in the 70s. From here till the intermission, the film is breezy with occasional laughs here and there. However, the film actually becomes damn interesting after Akshay’s makeover and when he starts bossing around. Some of the sequences and gags here were utterly hilarious, especially Akshay saying ‘Awaaz…Niche’! Finally the climax works although it was clichéd.
Now about the minuses! With such a nice concept in hand, director and the writers could have worked wonders. They could have got inspired from retro drama films and come up with an entertaining dramatic cinema. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. The musical muqabla between Akshay and Rannvijay could have been so exciting but alas, it was lackluster! Some of the dialogues and one-liners on Saif and Bipasha weren’t funny at all. Also, after Bunty managed to successfully alter his future, didn’t his father Kishen realize that his son looks exactly the same as the one who helped him fall for Mala?! However, the film has its moments because of which Action Replayy works.
It’s the performance that is one of the saving graces of Action Replayy. I have always maintained that Akshay Kumar successfully manages to come up with a performance that is different from the one in his other films, even though he mostly does comic flicks. He confirms the same yet again in Action Replayy. Performing a geek is no easy task but Akshay does it effortlessly. He has 2 more looks in the film-post-makeover and the old man look, and he awesome in each of these get ups!
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan too nicely compliments Akshay. She looks extremely beautiful in the songs (watch out for her in Chhan Ke Mohalla and O Bekhabar) and even otherwise. However, one wonders why she was shown wrinkle-free in the scenes wherein she’s supposed to be in her 60s. Maybe, the makers assumed that the beautiful Ash will be having the wrinkle-free look when she actually turns old!
Aditya Roy Kapur was the surprise of the film. The film revolves around him and his conversations with Akshay are the source of high entertainment. Here’s an actor who should be seen more often! Rannvijay Singh performs his part well. Rajpal Yadav brings the house down. Same goes for Kirron Kher and Om Puri. Neha Dhupia is wasted. Randhir Kapoor is okay as the stereotypical mad scientist. Sudeepa Singh looks very preety.
Pritam’s music is funky and much better than his recent films like Golmaal 3, Aakrosh, Crook, etc. As for the songs, Zor Ka Jhatka undoubtedly is the best song. Other likeable songs are Chhan Ke Mohalla, O Bekhabar and Nakhre. Salim-Sulaiman’s background score was one of the best things about the film. The retro score instantly impresses!
Nitin Desai’s sets are like everytime exemplary. Costumes bear the mark of the colourful 70s, especially the ones worn by Aishwarya. Amitabh Shukla’s editing was good but it seems some significant scenes were chopped off. Sejal Shah’s cinematography was perfect. VFX was flawless particularly in scenes shown as VT Station area.
Screenplay (Suresh Nair, Ritesh Shah, Aatish Kapadia) could have been much better and creative. Dialogues however are very witty. And Vipul Shah’s direction saves the show to a great extent. His last film London Dreams tanked at the box office and Action Replayy too doesn’t seem to hold itself for long at the theatres. It’s imperative that his next film is much better (especially in terms of content) to reconsolidate his position.
Some of the best scenes:
Songs Zor Ka Jhatka, O Bekhabar, Chhan Ke Mohalla and Nakhre
Elderly Kishen telling vegetable seller about his wife
Bunty sees young Kishen for the first time
Scenes of Om Puri and Kirron Kher
Bunty does a makeover of Kishen
Mala falls for Kishen
Kundanlal in jail (very funny!)
The climax
On the whole, Action Replayy is a nice breezy and most importantly, clean entertainer. It’s certainly not as exciting as it seemed from the promos but nevertheless watching it once will be no harm. At the box office, it might save itself given its reasonable costs although the film may suffer thanks to its okay content and competition in the form of Golmaal 3!
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