Dream Girl 2:
Dream Girl 2, billed as the ‘spiritual successor’ to the 2019 movie of the exact same name, recasts the majority of the original lineup in order to push gender barriers a few notches higher. That’s a positive thing, and it offers this 2023 outing an advantage. The not-so-good aspect is that, despite the non-stop diversity of characters, we feel the strain in the two hours and twenty minutes run-time.
Critic’s Rating: 2.5/5
Dream Girl 2 story:
Karamveer wishes to marry Pari, his lover. However, he must first meet her father’s requirement of earning Rs 25 lakhs in six months. Claiming to be a girl and performing in a bar is a simple way out for him. When four persons approach Pooja/Karam for marriage, things take an unusual turn.
Dream Girl 2 review:
Exactly four years after the release of Dream Girl, director Raaj Shaandilyaa delivers new comedy Dream Girl 2, which was charming for its unusual set-up and idea. The basis of the sequel is similar. Karamveer (Ayushmann Khurrana) must swiftly raise a large sum of money in order to marry his fiancée, Pari Shrivastav (Ananya Panday). So, he dresses up as Pooja and works as a dancer at Sona Bhai’s (Vijay Raaz) club. Following that, the film offers little new in its 133-minute runtime. Raaj and Naresh Kathooria, the writers, attempted to ramp up the comedy, but the plot went wild and ended up as a hodgepodge of scenarios and characters following each other.
Some tracks are drawn out as the viewer attempts to stay up to date with the characters’ antics, such as when Karam alternates between playing himself and Pooja. Many of the comedic scenes feel forced and add nothing to the film. In comedy films, speech and comic timing are crucial in eliciting laughs, but the one-liners here are tacky and don’t always land. When attempting to persuade Karam to become a dancer, his friend Smiley (Manjot Singh) says, gesturing to an elderly customer on the dance floor, ‘Shakti nahi bachi par Shakti Kapoor poora bacha hai.’
Pooja receives unwelcome scrutiny from Shoukiya (Rajpal Yadav) when she claims to be a psychiatrist counseling his brother Shahrukh (Abhishek Banerjee), who has become despondent following a breakup. The extensively discussed problem of mental health should have been handled significantly more delicately in the plot; instead, it is referred to as a ‘rich person’s disease.’ Abu Saleem (Paresh Rawal), Shahrukh’s father, believes that marrying Pooja is the cure, and the family offers to reward her with Rs 50 lakhs for the harmony. Among these is Shahrukh and Shoukiya’s sister Jumani (Seema Pahwa), who is in love with Karam while his father Jagjit Singh (Annu Kapoor) is not.
In the film, Ayushmann Khurrana expertly shifts between the roles of Karam and Pooja. He impresses well in the dancing scenes, nailing the latkas and jhatkas. His ability to pull off situational comedy shines through, and he owns some of the film’s best moments. Ananya Panday has little room to shine and struggles with regularity in her delivery of Braj Bhasha discourse. Annu Kapoor stands admirably, while Paresh Rawal, Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, Manjot Singh, and Abhishek Banerjee provide solid backing.
Dream Girl 2 stays on familiar ground, frequently deviating into unneeded comedy tangents. Despite a few outstanding performances and moments, the picture falls short of its predecessor’s offbeat charm.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, “Dream Girl 2” takes us on another delightful and laughter-filled journey into the whimsical world of Pooja, the lovable character we all fell in love with in the first installment. With its witty humor, charming performances, and a fresh twist to the story, the sequel manages to capture the essence of its predecessor while adding new layers to the narrative. Ayushmann Khurrana once again shines in his role, seamlessly transitioning between characters and delivering a stellar performance.
“Dream Girl 2” is a testament to the creative brilliance of the team behind it, from the sharp writing to the impeccable direction. It’s a laughter riot that will leave you in splits while also offering a heartwarming message about the importance of being true to oneself. If you’re in need of a good laugh and some feel-good moments, this film is a must-watch. It proves that dreams do come true, even in the most unexpected ways, and that the magic of Pooja will continue to enchant audiences for years to come.
Also Read:
“Satyaprem Ki Katha Review 2023: A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Truth”
Written by: Anshika Patra
