Bol Bachchan

To the old, sweet, amazingly funny, classic comedy, Golmaal (Hrishikesh Mukherjee, 1979), apply the Higgs Boson particle to it ie attempt to make it a 'mass' film, an 'entertainer'. So add liberal doses of silliness, unnecessary plot complications, shrillness, crassness, slow motion fight sequences and many, many blown up vehicles. Also add a few sequences & a few jokes that really make you laugh. Just pray that the cringe-worthy moments don't outnumber the LOL moments & that depends entirely on your sensibilities.

The broad outline of the original story is retained. Ajay Devgn, local tough & rich landlord, employs Abhishek as a supervisor. Unfortunately, Abhishek, a Muslim in the film, has to pretend to be a Hindu in front of Ajay. One lie leads to another and soon he has to invent a gay, Muslim identical step brother, a mother, the mother's identical twin sister etc. Prachi, Ajay's sister, is Abhishek's love interest. Asin, Abhishek's sister, is Ajay's love interest. And Jeetu Verma is there as Ajay's evil cousin only so that muscles can be rippled and bones broken. Neeraj Vora as Ajay's sidekick and Asrani and Krishna as Abhishek's uncle and son, respectively are there to attempt to wring a few more laughs from you.

Ajay's character likes to speak English and mangle it beyond belief, and this ability provides many of the comic, funny moments of the film. You watch in awe, wondering what he will come up with next, a bit like when you watch Sidhu comment on cricket. It works in short doses and appears a bit stretched in the second half. 'When elders get cozy, youngsters don't put nosy' or 'Thank you for the Complan Boy' (compliment) don't seem rib tickling but given Ajay's fulsome delivery and the situation, it does generate quite a few laughs.

Abhishek plays his two roles quite straight, pun intended. The sequence where the gay character has to dance to a medley of songs in unison with two of Ajay's henchmen is crass but makes you laugh in parts. Asin is strangely muted in the film, while Prachi also has a small role, without much meat.

The movie is too long, the songs aren't great, the fight sequences too similar to what we've already seen from Rohit Shetty's earlier films. There is a vision here to make it a comedy for the masses and judging by the loud laughs from the audience, he's got it right.

I feel, with the same cast, just keeping it along the lines of the original could've worked just as well, but I fear I would be in the minority in the industry. Would love it if there was a face-off between an intelligent, well made comedy (like a Vicky Donor, Khosla ka Ghosla) & a 'mass' one like this, with similar level of star power in both. I wonder which film would then have a bigger box office ? More at www.apurvbollywood.blogspot.in

Bol Bachchan is a typical Rohit Shetty movie with a little more substance. It has cheap jokes - this time on lousy understanding of English by Prithviraj - character played by Ajay. It has those characteristic action sequences - people and vehicles flying in the air. It has few songs, which are light and melodious.

But this film should be remembered for an actor who has worked out of his skin to entertain audience - Abhishek Bachchan. I have never seen Abhishek show so many emotions in a single film. He is good at comic roles - if we see Dostana and now Bol Bachchan. Action sequences and sharing chemistry with females is where I find him a little uncomfortable. He should not be compared to his dad now. He has carved an audience for himself.

If you believe me, I have this film in my hard-drive. This film is full of usual Rohit Shetty non-sense which isn't that painful to watch. Ajay Devgan, Asrani and Krushna Abhishek make this film worth watching (obviously after preserving our brains in the freezer). I would say "don't watch" if you are looking for a lot of meaningful comedy, but "do watch" if you aren't dead serious and are looking for having some light-hearted laughs.

It's a good Rohit Shetty comedy which has his Zameen cast thrill again. It's a movie seen without a brain. The story is all rattled and tries to create subplots just to not let it get boring while the comedy is a little missing in the starting of both the halves. Yet, it gets really hilarious at times in the first half that it's difficult to control the laughter. Also, the fighting scenes almost show super humans in action and the fights do go a level beyond Singham and you get a smile while seeing the nonsense-action.

Among the cast, Prithviraj Raghuvanshi takes your breath away with his English and his shocking expression and even his innocence seems to work. Abhieshek unexpectedly comes with a superb act as Abbas Ali, the dance teacher. He is too good for what is probably his first complete comedy movie. And among others, Asrani rocks in his little screen time. The screenplay disturbs you as it prefers first time bollywood actors like Krishna over veteran Asrani. He just has too much screen time to handle. A little more VIP in sharing time with him would have helped. Yet, both of them were decent. Even Archana, I thought could have got more screen time.

Also, please tell me why can't the actress in in a movie have some punches. Both, Asin and Prachi Desai have little time on screen and then they have to take care of the emotional content in that too. I would prefer Kareena in Golmaal 3 over these. These talented actresses were not used properly. In the actors, even the characters are developed well. A little more to the 2 actresses could've helped.

Lastly, this movie does have a little lack of originality but it still doesn't bother the viewer much as AB Jr. and Ajay just excel. Watch it for them. It's sort of a 7.5 movie but I think lack of story and well developed subplots brings it down to 7.

It is a known fact that Rohit Shetty is synonymous with nonsense. With a fight composer's blood running in his veins, he spares no penny in over-the-top action sequences that would put Tollywood to shame. His comedy is bi-polar as well, ranging from inane and retarded to occasionally, genuinely funny. Music has never been tasteful in any of his films nor has the importance of characterization and plot. After his career highlight, 'Singham', Shetty partners with Ajay Devgan (also co-producer) in this outlandish remake of 'Golmaal' (Shetty can't get over it) which would be as forgettable as his previous films were it not for some funny dialogues, situations and Ajay Devgan.

Abbas Ali (Abhishek Bachchan) is running out of luck in Delhi as he loses the case around his ancestral property. Along with his sister, Sania (Asin), he pays heed to Shastri's (Asrani) advice and moves to Ranakpur to work under Prithviraj (Ajay Devgan). Unfortunately, in a brave attempt to save a child from drowning, Abbas opens the gates to a controversial temple and after the tension around Prithvi's family feud cools, his friend had no choice but to introduce Abbas to Prithviraj as a hindu, named Abhishek Bachchan. From hereon begins a series of goof-ups, cover-ups and unabashed lies that conceal Abbas' true identity. However genuine his intentions may be, he would always have to confront Prithvi's stringent policy of honesty with fear.

Ajay Devgan is the major reason you would bear this film. His comic timing, expressions and dialogues are the saving grace. With equal ease he transforms into the angry Singham version when enraged. Abhishek Bachchan is passable. Comedy isn't his expertise and he does try hard but in an unconvincing manner. Others could've played his role better but then they're not a Bachchan. Asin looks beautiful but has little to offer in her acting, Asrani was splendid and Krishna Abhishek is hilarious especially when he weeps in nervousness. Archana Puran Singh was hilarious switching between two characters and Neeraj Vora, although loud, portrayed some natural comedy.

The film works in many of its dialogues, confusing situations and being a spoof of several films. Where it falls flat into Rohit Shetty (nonsense) territory is its overdone mockery of the English language, the ridiculous action sequences, the wasteful song and dance and the immature climax that drags the film to unnerving lengths. With smaller expectations, the film delivers the goods. Popcorn entertainment is what we can categorize it as and after a few laughs, you won't regret spending the time and money.

• 6.81 on a scale of 1-10.