‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’ Movie Review: Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri’s Comedy Is Wildly Inconsistent in Bringing In the Laughs! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video Movie Review:  As a writer and director, Raaj Shaandilyaa certainly has the gift of gab, with dialogue writing that reminds me of the late Neeraj Vora in his heyday. He also has the good fortune of finding actors with excellent comic timing, which elevates most of his films to a watchable level. What he desperately needs, however, is someone like Mukesh Tiwari’s character in his latest, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, who pleads "bar karo" whenever things go overboard or when Shaandilya doesn't know when to stop. This film desperately needed such a figure, especially in its convoluted, overstretched, and unnecessarily preachy third act. ‘Superb!’ Shehnaaz Gill’s Sizzling Dance Moves in ‘Sajna Ve Sajna’ Song From ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’ Leave Netizens Impressed.

Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video begins with Vicky (Rajkummar Rao) walking towards a rushing train, seemingly intent on ending his life. Of course, he doesn't go through with it, or I would have awarded the film an extra star for sparing our patience. The narrative then rewinds to explain why he finds himself in this dire situation, contemplating suicide.

Watch the Trailer of 'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video':

The story also flashes back to 1997, when Uttarakhand was still part of Uttar Pradesh, and so was Rishikesh, where Vicky and his girlfriend Vidya (Triptii Dimri) live in the same neighbourhood. They trick their families into letting them marry. On their honeymoon in Goa, Vicky convinces Vidya to film a sex tape for "future consumption." However, back home, their house is robbed, and with it, the CD player containing the tape. Vicky hides this from Vidya and tries to recover it himself, but his efforts only land him in bigger messes, including being accused of attempted murder.

'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' Movie Review - Starts Off Well

I thought Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video started well in terms of laughs. Vidya’s broken engagement scene, with a cameo by Manjot Singh, was funny, as was the community wedding scene. The introduction of Mallika Sherawat as Vicky's rebellious, single sister Chanda, and Vijay Raaz as a cop smitten with her, added more mirth to the proceedings.

The scene where the family discovers they've been robbed was particularly amusing, with Triptii Dimri standing out, especially with her now-famous 'Tharkulla' dialogue. The performances and dialogues shone in these moments, complemented by the quirky plot and the nostalgic parody of '90s culture.

'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' Movie Review - Soon Runs Out of Laughing Gas

However, after a while, it became evident that Raaj Shaandilyaa was trying too hard to make every line and every scene funny, and the over-exertion began to take its toll on the humour, despite the actors' best efforts. The scenes became less funny, the gags felt stretched, and the humour turned farcical, such as in the scene where Vijay Raaz and Mallika Sherawat recreate a popular '90s song sequence. While the situations were amusing in concept, they struggled to translate well on screen, eliciting only occasional chuckles. Some funny dialogues aside, the humour often relied on outdated tropes, including jokes about speech defects, racism, and stereotypes about South Indians. Additionally, some of the jokes, like Vicky referencing Wakanda, felt out of place for a film set in the '90s.

In the second half, the film briefly regained its comedic footing when Vicky gets involved in a murder case and a fake godwoman, along with her two Suniel Shetty impersonating acolytes, is introduced. However, the film then takes a sudden sentimental turn, with the couple dealing with the consequences of their lies, accompanied by a sad song and that shackles the emotional pacing of the movie.

Shaandilyaa attempts to bring the film back into the comedy realm by resorting to slapstick, such as in the cemetery sequence, which tries hard to generate laughs but falls flat. And just because Rajkummar Rao plays a character named Vicky, there’s no need to drag Stree into this, reminding us that we've seen him in better comedies.

'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' Movie Review - A Messy Final Act

While the film remains bearable up until this point, the final act derails everything. The tone shifts awkwardly, the heroes face a villain, and the scene drags on far too long, becoming overly preachy and melodramatic. Even the inclusion of the "Na Na Na Na Na Re" song and a Daler Mehndi cameo couldn't save this mess. The most irksome part is the casual sexism—Vicky, trying to prove his bravery, says he only puts mehndi on others, never on himself. Dude, I know the film is set in the '90s, but it’s being made in 2024—get with the times!

As for the performances, the cast is in top form, which is a major plus for the film. Rajkummar Rao continues to shine in comedy, and at times, his delivery even reminded me of Akshay Kumar in a good way. Triptii Dimri fares much better in this comedic outing than in her previous attempt with Bad Newwz, and her fantastic chemistry with Rao helps elevate the film. Vijay Raaz steals the show with his one-liners, though some of his side-track scenes lose their impact. Mallika Sherawat is also in fine form. The supporting actors - Tiku Talsania, Rakesh Bedi, Archana Puran Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari - deliver their parts with aplomb. ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video’ Plagiarism Row: Sanjay Tiwari Claims Raaj Shaandilyaa Copied His Original Idea, Says ‘I’ll Consider Moving the HC To Ban the Film’.

'Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Had Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video been more restrained and consistent in its tone, it could have been a much more enjoyable experience. As it stands, the movie is a mixed bag - funny in parts, frustrating in others, and a little too long for its own good. The cast, led by Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri, does its best to keep the film afloat with their comic timing, but even their talents can't fully save the comedy from the bloated third act and unnecessary preachiness. The one respite - this film is much better than the director's last outing, Dream Girl 2.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 11, 2024 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).