A film titled ABCD 2 – Any Body Can Dance 2 – has but the dance as the fulcrum of it all. In this semi-fictionalised tale of the Fictitious Dance Group’s journey, dance is what takes the cake. And there’s much patriotism, too. In a nutshell, one’s review after watching ABCD 2 can just be that it is an enjoyable film. Yes, there are those inescapable parts where the film loses the viewer, but more on that later.
ABCD 2 tells the story of Suresh and Vernon’s journey from Nalasopara in suburban Mumbai, to the World Hip Hop Challenge finals in Las Vegas. Of course, there’s Vinnie, too, to add the necessary element of romance to the film. Prabhudheva reprises the role of Vishnu Sir from the first film, and there are stars added to the cast this time around. Suresh (Varun Dhawan), whose Padma Shri dancer of a mother had planted the germ of dancing in him, now ekes out a living as a waiter at a pub. Vinnie (Shraddha Kapoor) is a hairdresser, whose dream is the same as their dance group Mumbai Stunners’ – of being big in the dancing scene of the country someday.
When at a reality show, the group is disqualified after being accused of copying the Philippines’ All Stars, a world famous dance group, the team disintegrates. Suresh wants to prove it to the world that they are not cheaters. The method? By signing up for a tedious process that culminates in Las Vegas, on the World Starz Hip Hop Challenge stage. On the way, Vishnu guides them, as the team grows with dancers from other parts of the country.
Varun Dhawan dances like a dream; and pitted against his bare abs and his acting, the actor’s dancing vies for space in the mind of the viewer. Shraddha Kapoor has worked mighty hard to get her moves perfect. As far as her acting is concerned, Kapoor’s expressions are not as blank as during her Aashiqui 2 days, but at times, she does look like she’s aware of the camera filming her. Nothing else of Prabhudheva’s stands a chance in front of his moves. Even at 42, his dance doesn’t make him look a day older than what he was in his Muqabla days. The supporting cast is a visual delight, especially during their dances. A special mention for Raghav Juyal. Oh, and Pooja Batra (yes, who is still best known for Virasat) plays a cameo in the film.
Remo D’Souza’s direction and story blend in well with the way the film is choreographed. Tushar Hiranandani and Mayur Puri – the writing team – too, have done a good job of film-ifying Fictitious’ journey. Several shots of Las Vegas, too, are breathtaking, thanks to Vijay Arora’s cinematography. Sachin-Jigar’s soundtrack has more than one delicious number, with Bezubaan Phir Se and Sun Saathiya deserving much applause.
All good points of the film aside, ABCD 2 loses steam in its second half. The film seems too long to bear with the 3D glasses cutting into your nose-bridge, and post interval, you begin to get restless. Manan Sagar’s snipping tools should have been used better. The story slows down after reaching Las Vegas, and some parts, the fight scenes, for example, begin to look repetitive and predictable. It’s almost as if for some reason, at every world-level competition Bollywood takes Indians to, they need to face racial taunts. The numerous levels of the competition, again, could have been shortened.
But then, the dance is so amazing and so baroque in ABCD 2 that you can’t take your eyes off the screen. It is one of those rare films where you need to pacify your Attention-Deficit-Disorder-ed self because you don’t want to leave the theatre without seeing the end credits roll. In all, this week’s big release is a lovely watch, and will leave you by saying, ‘Naach Meri Jaan!’
Credits:-Indiatoday.com
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