Action Replayy starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay Kumar should ideally be rechristened Overacting Replayy.
Yes we know that it's a spoof of some of the '70s over-the-top comedies that hit Bollywood during that era but the duo go overboard trying to rekindle that magic and charm.
At the start of the film, we are introduced to the fifty-something bickering couple Mala [Rai Bachchan] and Kishen [Akshay Kumar]. While Mala channels her frustrations of being in a loveless arranged marriage by becoming an uncontrollable shopaholic, Kishen comes across as a wimp who is not particularly fond of his better half.
Trapped in between all their squabbles is their hapless son Bunty [Aditya Roy Kapoor] who decides to steal a time-machine [an ugly monstrosity which would have made a dinosaur look slick] so that he can hurl himself back to the '70s and make his parents falls in love.
Sounds ludicrous? Well, the eyebrow-raising screenplay is the least of this film's problems. On a cosmetic, superficial-level, the acidic fifty-something housewife Mala doesn't look a day over 37 (Rai Bachchan's actual age).
But Akshay Kumar has no reservations of looking the senior-citizen part as he piles on the grease-paint with gay abandon.
In all fairness, we can almost overlook Mala's age-defying maneuvers since the dialogues underlining their marital discord evoke a few laughs. But the momentum doesn't sustain itself.
The part set in the '70s era – where Kishen is this super-ugly wimp and Mala is a tomboy bully – is where the over-acting bit kicks in.
Their flamboyant, psychedelic-printed clothes pale in comparison to their combined histrionic skills.
But if you were to choose the lesser of two evils, Bollywood's comic hero Akshay Kumar triumphs. Some of his signature dialogues like – Awaaz Neeche (lower your volume) – to silence his detractors after he transforms into a confident stud thanks to determined son Bunty is endearing.
Kumar has indeed managed to capture the exaggerated mannerism of yesteryear's matinee idols like Rajesh Khanna in this one. But the same couldn't be said about Rai Bachchan. Clearly her dancing skills are in top form when compared to her comic timing.
Another drawback of this film is the number of songs that have been inserted. There is a song around every corner and after a point it just gets tiring.
Apart from the retro, hummable track Zor Ka Jhatka – the rest did nothing to elevate the comedy to a higher standard.
Also, what's it about Bollywood filmmakers who make wimps super-ugly to underline that they are geeks? Not only is Kishen wearing over-sized nerdy glasses and sloppy clothes – his protruding teeth is stretching it an animated bit too far.
If that's not enough – Kishen's deformity is rectified when an overzealous Bunty punches him in the face as a part of his make-over.
The surprise package of the film has to Bunty who is convincing playing cupid determined to make his parents fall in love.
Watch this film if you are an ardent fan of Kumar and are a fan of loud '70s romantic comedies.
