Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobara movie review: Akshay, Sonakshi fail to create magic

Ratings- **; Star cast- Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan, Sonali Bendre, Mahesh Manjrekar: Director- Milan Luthria; Music- Pritam‘Agar main hero ban gaya to meri pehchan bura maan jayegi! Shoaib's line to never betray his own identity might have a deeper meaning but for many it left their head's tickling.There are other such one-liner dialogues that compliment the 80's era where gangsters used to be filmy. Their shades never used to ditch them and formal suits used to be the dress code. What Milan Luthria expected was that the dialogues and portrayal of the similar era will be welcomed by its viewers.With Akshay Kumar, who isn't a Khiladi anymore but is a ‘complete game' as he says in the film, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara is unexpectedly a big time let down. We didn't expect Luthria to peek in the minutes of the law-breaking world as he didn't glance into it in the original Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. What we anticipated from him was to maintain a similar verve in premise, which won accolades in the limelight of Ajay Devgn and Imraan Hashmi earlier. Like its original, the director has brought in the narration, which portrays his inspiration from the 80s era. He wants his characters to be filmy; he wants his actors to overact and to ‘maro lot of ishtyle' like before. But this time he falters. The dialogues don't have that vitality to infiltrate one to clap or whistle. Neither is Akki's presence as don who tries hard to be evil.He comes back to Mumbai from Dubai to discover and assassinate his foe Ravan (Mahesh Manjrekar). He has Aslam (Imran Khan) a small town goon, whom he picked when he was teenager. Here Shoaib falls head over heals to an emerging actress Jasmine (Sonakshi Sinha) who has feeling for Aslam. Now what will surface thereafter when Shoaib and Aslam come to know about their mutual lady love?As told, its personal, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara is about the love-triangle concept which isn't new to Bollywood and has repeatedly worked many a time but here it is forcefully implemented and seems unauthentic. Neither the actors nor their chemistry looks influential.The dialogues look like being read out from the teleprompter, characters look like caricature. Even the teenage Aslam is fully ‘dialoguebaaz'. With this there are numerous departments where Luthria loses his grip. Thanks to the cinematographer Ayananka Bose, keen attention has been paid to the ambience of the 80's, be it cars, the cabaret and other settings. Even Pritam's music gives a good support in the background. But that isn't enough to please its audience for 2 hour 40 minute duration which could have been easily trimmed.Though, Akshay Kumar's performance is good but he doesn't fit into the shoes of a don nor does the narration allow him to.The innocence and the intensity required for Aslam's character isn't fulfilled by Imran Khan.Nothing less could be expected from Sonakshi Sinha after ‘Lootera' and here she goes back again. Sometimes you would feel that she isn't the lady to fight for.Sonali Bebre's special appearance has nothing to offer. Mahesh Manjrekar is wasted.I'll go with two stars for Milan Luthria's ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara'. It's a dull crime saga with an uninspiring love angle. Look out for some other option this weekend.