'De De Pyaar...2' review: Ajay struggles to save unfunny sequel
What's the story
De De Pyaar De 2 continues the story from the first part, released in 2019. Written by Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, DDPD2, starring Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan, and Rakul Preet Singh, tries too hard to be funny, becoming a slog for the most part. Madhavan emerges as the best performer, but even his crackling chemistry with Devgn fails to save the movie.
Plot
Will Ayesha's parents accept Ashish?
Directed by Anshul Sharma, De De Pyaar De 2 focuses on the love story between 27-year-old Ayesha (Singh) and 52-year-old Ashish (Devgn). They meet Ayesha's parents, Rakesh (Madhavan) and Anju (Gautami Kapoor), seeking their approval for their marriage, but the parents immediately disapprove of their union. Rakesh asks his friend's son, Aditya (Meezaan), to woo Ayesha, hoping she'll finally leave Ashish. Will she?
#1
The story lacks heft
Though this is a direct sequel, there isn't much of a story here, and almost everything feels like a repeat of the first part. The narrative is stretched thin to the point that dialogues, jokes, and scenes begin to repeat themselves. In the first half, everything feels rushed, and all the characters seem in a hurry, while after the intermission, things become painfully slow.
#2
The supporting characters aren't well-developed
Apart from Anju, Ayesha, Rakesh, and Ashish, most characters remain at the periphery, with no memorable scenes or arcs. Take, for instance, Rohan (Tarun Gehlot), who plays Ayesha's brother; he appears in multiple scenes but only gets a few lines of dialogue. The second half, meanwhile, almost exclusively focuses on Ayesha and Aditya's "love story," absolutely disregarding everything else.
#3
Stumbles badly toward the end
The utter absence of logic in Bollywood movies can sometimes be ignored if the director can sell the story, but that's not the case here. After a somewhat tolerable, serviceable first half, the film loses its voice, becoming messy and chaotic. Devgn remains in the shadows, Meezaan takes over, and the movie, unsurprisingly, leaves the comedy zone and becomes melodramatic.
#4
What works: Madhavan and Devgn are fun together
The banter between Devgn and Madhavan helps the film, and the funny, frequent references to Shaitaan are a standout. Madhavan outperforms everyone else in several scenes. Kapoor, too, lends able support, and most of the movie's humor comes from her scenes with Madhavan. As confused parents stuck between worldly customs and their daughter's happiness, they fit the bill perfectly.
#5
More on the above aspect
One of Devgn's biggest strengths is that he isn't insecure about giving the better part to a co-star. Even when he disappears from the screen for a long stretch, Madhavan, and to an extent, Meezaan, keep you watching. If the writing were stronger and the characters better developed, DDPD2 could have been a solid family entertainer. Its potential cannot be denied.
Verdict
Wait for its OTT premiere; 2.5/5 stars
As is the case with movies like these, you can sense the climactic monologue from miles away. Singh's tendency to overact in emotional and fiery scenes further pushes you away, and while the movie tries to salvage itself, it's not enough. The messaging gets lost in the haphazard execution, and the humor isn't strong enough to pull you to theaters. 2.5/5 stars.