Movie Review: ACTION JACKSON

I was apprehensive about watching ‘Action Jackson’– this week’s biggie commercial potboiler by Director (!) Prabhu Deva. His last film outing ‘R… Rajkumar’ released exactly a year back and it took me some time to recover from the trauma of watching it. A regressive outlook towards women and sex, trappings meant for front stall audience in B and C centres; I questioned if we should call it entertainment. ‘Wanted’ and ‘Rowdy Rathore’ were both entertaining in spite of their hare-brained plots and we don’t walk into a hall expecting a masalathon to be a classic – words of wisdom spoken by the filmy keeda in me.

A Bangkok-based don’s spoilt sister Maria (Manasvi Mamgai) falls in lust for her brother’s right-hand man AJ (Ajay Devgan) when he saves her from a gang of enemies; she tied to a chair about to be raped and in walks AJ, shirtless and tough to fight the baddies. A seductive number plays in the background while Maria looks at her saviour with horny gaze. But the guy is engaged and refuses Maria’s proposal. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned… and if it’s a vamp, you are screwed big time. Maria snorts some drugs, cuts her wrist and tells her powerful brother to get her AJ anyhow. AJ’s fiancée (a beautiful Yami Gautam sadly not getting good roles after a confident debut) is bashed hard by the don’s henchmen and an appalled AJ takes her to Mumbai for treatment. So, there is a double role and Vishy (Ajay Devgan again) is a street-smart good-hearted rowdy who is mistaken to be AJ when his pic goes viral in FB. Let’s not miss out on the heroine Khushi (Sonakshi Sinha) who is unlucky until she spots a semi-nude Vishy and is convinced that seeing him that way gets her lucky.

It’s a pathetic storyline that is… if Director Prabhu Deva thought there was one. The first half is unbearable and is as terrible as ‘R… Rajkumar’, probably a little better. But to give its due, ‘Action Jackson’ picks up pre-interval just like ‘Rowdy Rathore’ did and much in the same way; two look-alikes knowing about each other and a slick action scene. The second half is the plot and by the time the movie ends, you realize there wasn’t really a need for a double role or the first half. Post-interval, it takes a different turn and gets quite gripping minus the routine songs and dances. Prabhu Deva gives us a wicked horny stubborn vamp; something you might not have seen for a while now. It’s all silly but made entertaining also because Devgan is much in form and enjoys his stardom while being desired and wanted by the three leading ladies. There are also a few hilarious enough scenes especially when Vishy has to act AJ for a few days. Anusha (Yami Gautam) being beaten by the baddies comes off as too violent but makes an impact and you feel. Action is the kind that you see these days and done with style; Ajay Devgan’s fans should clap and whistle aloud. But there aren’t any great dialogues, something you look forward to in such movies. Music (Himesh Reshammiya) is loud, tuneless and avoidable.

Ajay Devgan enjoys every bit of his role here and does what superstars have to do; play to the gallery and appeal to the masses. As AJ, he looks and acts the part well. Action comes naturally to him and he has made a mark in comedy too. But you also get to see him intense in emotional scenes here; something that has been missing in his roles for a while now. Sonakshi Sinha is getting sillier but nevertheless irritating with her choice of movies. Barring an overwhelming ‘Lootera’, she seems to just play meaningless roles in big movies with superstars. It is Yami Gautam then who leaves a better mark in a small role. Pity a pretty confident actress like her doesn’t get chances apart from promoting Cornetto. Manasvi Mamgai plays the vamp with the correct understanding but is still a stereotype. Probably, a better director could have done justice to the role. What was Kunal Roy Kapur doing here being wasted? Anand Raj as the don looks more funny than dangerous.

Watch it or not: Strictly for Ajay Devgan fans. Others can watch it on tv for a silly but quite enjoyable second half. It’s still better than many other such movies.

At the Box-Office: Will do well in single screens but won’t make huge money… average; at best- hit. ‘Rowdy Rathore’ will remain the director’s biggest money-churner.

• About the Author

About Abhirup Dhar

I don't watch movies... I live them! Let me introduce myself. Abhirup Dhar was born in Kolkata and is still being brought up in India. A banker by profession, he is filmy to the core and is passionate about reviewing movies and writing. He likes to live on his own… he likes to be blunt, sarcastic, famous, infamous, confident, over-confident, moody at times… he likes to be himself. He is imperfect because perfection is boring. His love for movies dates back to his childhood days when he studied in a boarding school. A three-month Winter Vacation every year… and he made sure he watched as many movies then. Parents thought it was a phase... he knew it was Passion and he knew it back then itself. The craziness to watch movies on the Big Screen began during the last two years of school when he literally bunked to town so that he could catch up with the new Hindi Movie releases. Some thought he was plain crazy. He confirmed it was Passion... yet again. The hard fact is that not always can you walk a path you are passionate about. You have expectations to fulfill and Life to be made. But Life gives you chances and you have to grab them. So... here is he... your friendly critic who will be giving you his Verdict every week so that you can decide which release is worth your moolah and which is not! See you at the Movies! Stay connected at Facebook and Twitter!