When it comes to Rohit Shetty's comedy films, one expects a wholesome 'dhamaal' affair that keeps you smiling all through, if not making you laugh on a constant note. Whether it is his 'Golmaal' series or even 'All The Best', Rohit and his team has always believed in bringing enough entertaining moments that ensure that you are talking about it way after the end credits have rolled.
In case of 'Bol Bachchan' though, there isn't much that you want to revisit after the film is through. This family film sans any vulgarity whatsoever gives you some good laughs during the film's run but that's where it all ends. The film starts on a rather uncharacteristic note. There is no bit of laughter in the first 20-30 minutes. There is a 'dukhi' story about Abhishek Bachchan and Asin (playing siblings no less!) who have lost a property case.
Then there is Ajay Devgn and his 'akhaada' of 'pehelwans' with a warring cousin brother. Some other random sequences follow that bring Abhishek closer to Ajay but still, no laughter yet! However things change for better with the 'maa' angle coming into picture. Let the fact be stated; this diversion in the plot is actually the best of the lot, especially with Archana Puran Singh playing a 'nautanki' character. Of course the whole premise is lifted from the Kadar Khan track of 'Hum'. Still, it is indeed hilarious. The fun continues as Abhishek's 'humshakal', a gay dancer, is introduced and the moment it is established that he knows how to dance (the intermission point is a riot), you look forward to an even better second half.
Just like the first half though, even the second half is selectively funny with frequent ups and downs in the narrative. Moreover there are distractions galore as well. Asin's double role just does not add on to the film while Abhishek-Prachi love story is barely existent. The villain angle is totally unnecessary as there is a deja vu of sorts with Prachi getting abducted twice.
This is the reason why all the scenes where Abhishek has to find a way to escape his bluff are the best of the lot. Surprisingly though, there is a different (though not-so-entertaining) way adopted to culminate the film. A 'Karz' kind of sequence comes on screen where Ajay and his gang (Neeraj Vora) bring on the 'Ek Haseena Thi' act to make Abhishek and his team (Krushna Abhishek) realise their folly. It just doesn't work and ditto is the case with the climax which is straight out of the cliff hanging sequence in 'No Entry'. What works though for the film is its duration which, despite close to two and a half hours, never slackens. One may love, like or be indifferent to a scene but there is absolutely nothing to be disliked. That's because there isn't any instance where two back to back sequences fail to entertain you. To make up for every ordinary sequence, there is something better that comes immediately after, hence keeping the interest alive.
Meanwhile the film's leads, Ajay and Abhishek, do their jobs well though it would be incorrect to say that this is their career best performance. Ajay plays his part well and while Abhishek is good, one feels that his Abbas Ali act could have got more prominence. Asin is decent in the part written for her though she has limited role to play. On the other hand Prachi is hardly there. As for supporting actors, Neeraj and Krushna fill in the sidekick slot but that's about it.
Rohit Shetty was right. 'Bol Bachchan' has absolutely nothing to do with 'Golmaal' except for the basic thread of a man impersonating as another to save his job. In that perspective, the makers could have well said that it is based on Govinda's 'Coolie No. 1' (or even 'Aankhen' for that matter) and no one would have raised the finger due to double role similarities. However on second thoughts, this seems more like a marketing peg since the very comparison between 'Bol Bachchan' and 'Golmaal' led to quite a few speculations and debates. As it turns out, 'Bol Bachchan' is a standalone though with lesser zing.
Rating: ***
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