Action Jackson

If it were only a fraction of its length, "Action Jackson" would be of the sort of perfectly-bad movies ideal for riotously ripping into with a group of snarky-sarcastic friends. However, its 3 hour run time turns it into a psychologically torturous endurance test as it drags its dead carcass through enough plot clichés and randomly thrown-in twists for four films.

Viewers lured in with the promise of a meet-cute Bollywood rom-com, will be confused and horrified when the body count reaches in the high hundreds. "Action Jackson" is actually a bizarre amalgamation of two Bollywood rom-coms, a stereotypical assassin- turned-good-guy out for revenge flick, and the Parent Trap. But with 007 Bond villains (I will admit, I enjoyed the super-campy villains). However, instead of a cohesive blending of these elements, it feels as if the random limbs from at least four different films were amateurishly hacked-off and thrown into a pile to rot together and produce this...thing.

Watch an old guy with obviously CGIed abs (they move up and down on their own!) play not one, but two, action heroes badly, as he poses like a teen model every chance he gets and speaks only in garbled, bizarre, one-liners ("It's my way, or the Skyway." "Me, criminally bad." are some of the gems) and flirts with two much younger, extremely similar women the plot keeps forgetting about.

The dancing is bad and makes no sense with the plot half the time, the lines are dubbed as poorly as an old kung-foo film and sometimes not translated at all, and most parts are so laughably wretched that you will openly mock the movie in order to stay sane.

I nearly cried when I discovered there was still over an hour left.

People walked out of the theater.

"Action Jackson" could have been "the Room" of the Indian film industry, but is so long and crappy, it really isn't worth bothering with.

I have been a fan of Masala films like Dabanng and Main Hoon Na but this one failed to lie in that genre. The execution and story of the movie were both atrocious to say the least. Very choppy editing that I have ever seen in my life. The action scenes are one of the biggest letdowns in the movie. The music is so ridiculous that made me thinking what HR had in his mind when being offered as a composer for Action Jackson. Ajay Devgan's performance is like Tiger Shroff and Fardeen Khan combined only in this movie although he previously did well in his other movies. I still remembered that cheesy line when Sonakshi said to Ajay that you dance better than Prabhu Deva. After hearing Punjabi Mast, yeah he sure does!!! Manasvi Mamgai was attractive in the movie but she had bad taste in acting her role. Prabhu Deva should leave the film directing sector and just stick to making peoples bodies move because that is the only thing he is good at. Lights, Camera, and Action and Prabhu Deva, there is a huge difference on how he does it.

This film overall was an atrocity and a disgrace to North Indian Cinema and the world.

Action Jackson review:

The hero of this film (Devgn) seems to be some sort of "Adonis". Ladies go weak in knees just seeing him cat walk in slo mo. One of them (Sonakshi) inadvertently catches him without pants on and wants to glimpse his private organ again and again for good luck. Next, we have a psychopathic cocaine snorting sister of a Thai gangster who lusts for him even as he is saving her from getting gang raped. Clearly, sense, logic, clean humor are conspicuous by their absence in this Prabhu Dheva directed action mumbo jumbo. The attempt is to cater to the lowest common denominator of the audience (namely the front benchers, masses....whatever u call them).

The film's plot is merely a filler between the numerous fight sequences and item numbers. Influences can be traced to diverse materials from Prabhu Dheva's own "Rowdy Rathore" to Mahesh Bhatt's Srk starrer "Chhahat" to even Quentin Tarantinos "Kill Bill". Admittedly, the action scenes are superbly executed. Also, the choreography proves once again that Prabhu sir is still the boss as far as dance is concerned.

Coming to performances, Ajay Devgn seems to be having fun excelling in the fight sequences and gamely fitting into Prabhu Dheva's dance steps. He plays to the gallery cleverly understanding the OTT nature of the project he's nodded to lead. Sonakshi Sinha and Yami Gautam have precious little to do. In fact, debutante Manasvi Mamgai leaves an impression playing the vamp cum item girl with astounding boldness and conviction. The main villain (Tamil actor Anantharaj) acts as if he time travelled from the 80s era; possibly was a sidekick of Shaakaals and Mogambos of yore.

Final word of advice: Go for it if you like nothing more than action and skin!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

No Spoilers.

There are many things that fly in this movie, including Sonakshi.

The movie has pathetic script... unnecessary dialogs. What i could not understand is that "there was nothing to understand" in this movie. Ajay can not dance but is made to dance. The first half is OK but beware of second half. Action sequences defy Physics.

Only saving grace is Yamy Gautam and Kunal Roy Kapur. They both have justified their roles. Yami looks fresh and energetic. Movie songs and background score is pathetic and not appealing. Composed with a feeling of loose character.

Please stay away... watch only on TV release, where u can fast-forward it and waste less time! :)

Cheers!

Director Mr.Prabhu Deva work is good. Story has lots of things, which go overboard. Dialogues by Shiraz Ahmed, are OK. Screenplay by Prabhudeva, Shiraz Ahemed and A.C Mughil, offers something new. First half entertains only due to innovative approach of most of the scenes. The main track of luck factor is logical and comical both. Even they try to convey few messages through it. Messages are subtle but good. In the scene, when a kid got refused admission from school on the basis of illiterate father, then the way hero convinces the Principal is appealing. Fighting style with music beats is also new and entertaining. Interval point indicates that now movie is ready to land in the illogical and unnecessary violence area. The main conflict in second half is unreliable. A person never became ready to take risk of his life only for humanity ground and even with his friend. Yeah, we got some comical relief in second half due to this duo but there was no logic at all and it downgraded the villain character too. Climax fight is just like cake walk rather than some brain game in action sequences or in screenplay. Performance wise Ajay Devgan will surprise you with his unique and entertaining style of dancing. He is candidly endearing. Sonakshi Sinha looks beautiful and fits completely in her bubbly character. Yami Gautem looks pretty and acts good. Kunal Roy Kapoor is very good. Manasvi Mamgai as Marina, wears perfect attitude and expression. Music by Himesh Reshmmiya is good and choreography makes it very good.