(According to Nik Gujarati Abcd 2 is a 5 star movie)

2013’s abcd – it stood for any body can dance, establishing the talent-show territory it was staking out – found bollywood cutting in on an idea proven profitable elsewhere: its stereoscopic urban danceathon marked another take on the step ups. this reappropriation was more cheeky than venal: hindi cinema has its own tradition of fleet-footedness, a lineage abcd2 underlines by appointing a boy schooled in indian classical dance to head its crew. if you’re looking for flow from your musicals, here it is – and this sequel even folds in claims of plagiarism, the better to transcend them. it transpires that en route to tv triumph, the mumbai stunners pilfered a move from a rival troupe, the steal called out on social media for all to comment upon. mortal shame is thereby brought upon brooding mentor vishnu (prabhudheva) and chief b boy suresh (varun dhawan), although possible redemption presents itself after it’s revealed the stunners have won a place in an international competition in las vegas – blatant brand expansion, this, not unlike pitch perfect 2’s decision to dispatch its bellas to copenhagen. what ensues follows a recognisably cowellian arc. early auditions garner cheap laughs at the expense of clumsy no-hopers; the discoveries get a mid-film warm-up in bangalore that serves a similar narrative purpose to glee’s recurring regionals; there’s a makeover section; and, eventually, we reach the make-or-break bling of the world starz hip-hop challenge – or to give it its full, slightly less street title, the ponds men’s face wash world starz hip-hop challenge. (these characters have 99 problems, but acne isn’t one of them.)
View all reviews on Abcd 2