Movie Review: Akshay Kumar's Jolly LLB 2 Is Guilty Of Failing To Match Up To Its Predecessor!

Plot

Jagdishwar Mishra aka Jolly (Akshay Kumar) is a sidekick to a hotshot lawyer in Kanpur. He wishes to make it big in the legal world but lady luck never smiles on him. Instead he resorts to his street-smart ways to earn some quick bucks by taking bribe to help students pass their English exams. At home, Jolly is a henpecked husband to Pushpa (Huma Qureshi) who loves Gucci dresses and her pegs of whisky.

Driven by ambition and a money-minded approach to life, he hoodwinks a pregnant widow, Hina Siddiqui (Sayani Gupta) who is looking out for justice for her husband who she believes was murdered in a fake police encounter. Unfortunately, when Hina learns of Jolly's fraud, she loses all hope and commits suicide. With a guilty conscience to deal with, Jolly now wants justice at any cost; even if if it means stepping into murkier waters or dealing with an shrewd adversary like Pramod Mishra (Annu Kapoor) in the courtroom.

Direction

Subhash Kapoor's Jolly LLB which starred Arshad Warsi was a sleeper hit and even bagged two National Awards. Four years later, the film-maker returns with yet another courtroom drama. This time, the premise has shifted from a hit-and-run case to a case of mistaken identity of a J & K terrorist. He gets the cast spot on right but sadly, this time it's the weak screen-play that plays a spoilsport. Thankfully, the impressive performances and striking dialogues keep you invested till the end.

Few scenes like the one where the light bulb at the judge's desk doesn't work and those majorly involving Saurabh Shukla's Justice Sunderlal Tripathi are entertaining to the core.

Performances

Akshay Kumar is on a roll as Jolly. Shedding off his action-persona, it's quite refreshing to watch him play an underdog. The actor has a fine sense when it comes to picking up scripts. Be it his comic timing or delivering heavy emotional dialogues, he hits a masterstroke right from the first frame. But yes, Arshad Warsi, we missed you terribly!

Huma Qureshi fits right in as Jolly's wife Pushpa. She too puts up a commendable act before the script forgets her and you wished you could see more of her in the film.

Annu Kapoor as the obnoxious lawyer is a treat to watch and gets to mouth some really good punchlines.

However it's the return of Saurabh Shaukla as Justice Sunderlal Tripathi that makes up your day. He is at his crackling best and you thoroughly enjoy his performance in the film.

The rest of the cast comprising of Sayani Gupta, Manav Kaul and Inaamulhaq lend a good support.

Technical Aspects

Subhash Kapoor's latest outing is let down by a climsy screenplay. Things come a little too easy to Akshay's Jolly and doesn't look convincing enough at several points.

Kamal Jeet Negi's cinematography and Chandrashekhar Prajapathi's editing is in sync with the film.

Music

Jolly LLB 2 doesn't have much scope for music. The songs look forced in the narrative and none of them stay with you post the film.

Verdict

Jolly LLB 2 is strictly for Akshay Kumar fans! He is a jolly good fellow but this courtroom drama fails to leave up to its predecessor.