Cast Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randhir Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Kirron Kher, Om Puri, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Rannvijay Singh
Director Vipul Shah
Rating G
"Making a cup of tea is not your cup of tea." Evidently Aatish Kapadia didn't invest much thought in penning these lines. While he does throw in a few gems along the way, it's the dull ones that clearly stand out. Make no mistake, Action Replayy is a fun movie, but just not funny enough.
With the trailers glorifying the few, but all, genuinely witty lines, there are no stunners left in the film. Add to that the inconsistent comic tone, dull music score and an over-stretched story and Vipul Shah's journey back in time ends up rather tedious. While the fashion pitch remains spot on, with polka dots and vibrant minis taking centre stage, most other details are conveniently ignored. So, when the despicable Kundan's witty marriage song, Zorr Ka Jhatka, rewinds to a jazzy music video, it creates confusion. It's only later I discovered that it was Shah's decision to swap the original with a promotional video. That the filmmaker's impulsive decisions aren't based on narrative flow but, instead, on gaining publicity is a genuine concern.
While Shah takes a dig at the 1970s, by relying heavily on over-the-top emotions, he doesn't pad it substantially. From Mala and Kishen's turbulent romance, to the buck-toothed Kishen's make-over and the Kundan-Kishen musical battle, everything happens at the snap of a finger. So, the frizzy-haired Bunty's cupid plans for his parents hardly appear crucial.
If there's one thing Action Replayy has going for it, it's got to be Akshay Kumar. He almost regains his lost title as the comic king. While Rannvijay is impressive as the boisterous Kundan, Aishwarya regales us with her stunning dance moves and nothing more. Dhupia hardly manages a few minutes of screen space; not enough to merit any special mention. Of the group,it's Kapoor who walks awaywith the honours for his matured performance.
So, I'd say watch this if glossy, retro fashion is your thing.
