TITLE: ABCD 2
DIRECTOR: Remo D Souza
CAST: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhu Deva
CLASSIFICATION: TBA
RUNNING TIME: 147 minutes
RATING: ***
The franchise that launched an all-new platform for modern contemporary dance in India has returned with much more vigour and verve.
Dramatic conflicts, a blossoming romance and plenty dance. This movie has it all, even though it is nothing like what you have seen before.
Plot: The Indian Stunners, a dance group hailing from the back streets of Mumbai, are eager to reclaim their lost glory and pride. The group had been ousted from a dance contest after being accused of cheating.
Led by the courageous Suresh (Varun Dhawan) and his girlfriend Vinnie (Shraddha Kapoor), the group are now aiming to achieve success at an international contest. Under the guidance of Vishnu (Prabhu Deva), they travel to Las Vegas, unaware of the life-changing challenges that lie ahead.
Verdict: With even less of a plot and more over-the-top musical sequences, this movie delivers only on spectacle. The entire dance unit deserve credit for their imaginative choreography, making it a unique screen appearance. The stand-out numbers, Hey Ganaraya and Vande Mataram, are strategically placed towards the end of the film to culminate in a grand finale.
Unfortunately, the technical dazzle suffers an inability to produce imagery or effects that can be considered inventive.
Screenwriter Tushar Hiranandani and scriptwriter Mayur Puri have taken a lot of inspiration from Hollywood flicks of the dance genre, particularly Step Up. They have written a series of clumsy scenes with clichéd dialogue to serve merely as an excuse to support the stunning dance numbers.
While the actors are detached from their forgettable screen characters, their poor conviction is substituted by a musical chemistry that softens your emotions.
Varun’s regular boy charm eases into the hearts of the viewers, particularly the females who will admire his display of abs and sensational dance moves.
Shraddha’s transformation from dramatic roles in to a dancing star is refreshing. She pulls of her role with finesse.
Newbie, Lauren Gottlieb, impresses in her dance performances.
Prabhu adds strong support, leading the secondary cast of dedicated dancers including Darmesh Yelande, Raghav Juyal and Punit Pathak.
Recommendation: A niche movie that perfectly suits its dance-crazy youth audience.
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