Selfiee REVIEW: Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi roll out a genuinely entertaining movie with smashing performances

Film: Selfiee

Director: Raj Mehta

Star cast: Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Diana Penty

Platform: Theatres

Bollywood Bubble Ratings: 3.5/5 stars

Selfiee Movie REVIEW:

We have seen movies on the common man vs politicians, and the common man vs nation. We have also seen the movie on common man vs superstar, for example, Shah Rukh Khan starrer Fan. It is a done-and-dusted movie and yet, Selfiee has a unique style and charm that can impress the audience. The one-word review for the movie would be entertaining. Selfiee is about a superstar and a die-hard fan who lock horns with each other for a selfie. The film showcases how a fan who loves and idolise his superstar tries to bring his superstar down after a series of misunderstandings.

It showcases the epic face-off between the star and a fan is hell entertaining. Interestingly, since you know both the sides of the story, you actually start rooting for both Vijay Kumar and Om Prakash Agarwal. Well, that’s how the story grabs your attention despite rolling out a predictable story. It is quite evident that what is going to happen next; however, Raj Mehta makes the face-off so interesting that you forget about the other aspects.

Considering that it is a Raj Mehta directorial venture featuring Akshay Kumar, we saw the right amount of humour that will surely tickle your funny bone. For really psyched me was to see full masala movie that too coming from Mehta who is often seen making family dramas. From exhibiting Akshay’s larger-than-life superstar character to the epic face-off, Selfiee is indeed an entertaining watch.

Story:

Bollywood superstar Vijay Kumar needs to obtain a new driving license from the RTO officer, Om Prakash Agarwal, a diehard fan of Vijay. But a series of misunderstandings lead to a war of words between the two, eventually escalating into a feud which is played out in front of the media and the entire country. Does Vijay get his driver’s licence? Will the face-off between the star and the fan resolve?

Star Performances:

Akshay Kumar is the star of the film for sure. He essays the role of a superstar Vijay Kumar and trust me, he lives like his real-life character in the movie with a few changes and that’s the best part about his character. In the movie, Vijay says that he has no time for anything as he has to make 5-6 movies and 2 OTTs and several brand endorsements and that’s exactly what Akshay Kumar is known for. It is quite funny to keep that aspect in his character which is also giving it back to the trolls who have been criticising him for doing so many films.

I liked how Raj Mehta kept his character genuine and subtle instead of going all loud and berserk as he is a superstar. Akshay doesn’t just play his part but lives it like a genuine superstar. I loved how his character was not loud and unreasonable as he plays a superstar. Raj Mehta kept the raw and real side of him and that’s when you feel the connection. You will feel like hooting at every Akshay Kumar style, his unique walk, his swag and his charm.

Emraan Hashmi essays the role of RTO officer Om Prakash Agarwal who is a die-hard fan of superstar Vijay Kumar. Emraan impresses me with his performance in the movie. From being vulnerable and hopeless to being a stern and sharp officer, Emraan does a fab job of bringing out the cunning and innocent side of the character. 

On the other hand, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Diana Penty have given a reasonable performance in their limited screentime. They are not shown much in the movie and have nothing significant to offer but they do demand attention.

Direction/Screenplay:

Raj Mehta, director of Selfiee, seemed to have tried his hands at making a full masala entertainer and must say, it turned out to be quite good. Looking at his previous films, Good Newwz and JuggJug Jeeyo, we got a light-hearted family entertainer; however, when it comes to Selfiee, it seems like Raj Mehta also tried his hands on giving the audience a full-blown commercial movie. From using slow-motion shots, larger than life songs to swag-loaded actions, Raj went out and about with Selfiee which was quite eye-grabbing for me. Considering that I have not seen such things before, it was surely an entertaining watch.

Drawbacks:

First and foremost, Selfiee gives a predictable story, you just know what’s going to happen next or who did what. There are quite a few scenes that were a letdown, thus, making the movie a little unreal and too made up. Yes, Bollywood films are to be enjoyed more than finding logic in them; however, some were too far from being realistic. Since when media are allowed in the RTO office? Since when school children are made to watch TV during school hours? How come there was no action taken on people who raised a hand to the public servant that is the police officer? A fight for a simple license seems like an over dramatic but it is an entertaining watch.

Speaking about the story, yes, it can get a little over-the-top or overtly dramatic but it will surely leave you with a happy smile. Yes, the concept of a superstar vs a common man is and dusted formula but the execution and storyline surely bring freshness to the script. Raj Mehta’s sole reason was always giving the audience a light-hearted movie that stays with you forever and Selfiee is no exception.

Conclusion:

Overall, Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi starrer Selfiee is genuinely an entertaining watch with a few hits and misses. Even though it gets a little predictable from the start, you will still enjoy it. Watch it for the smashing performances by Akshay and Emraan as well as for Raj Mehta’s direction which will surely leave you starstruck.

Watch the Selfiee trailer after the review:

Also read: The Night Manager REVIEW: Hindi remake is a slow burner with power-packed performances by Aditya, Anil, Tillotama