'Student of the Year 2' Review: Soulless, despite a magical Tiger!

Movie: Student Of The Year 2 | Cast: Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, Tara Sutaria, Aditya Seal | Director: Punit Malhotra | Genre: Drama, Romance | Duration: 2 hours 26 minutes | Critic's rating: 3 out of 5

Story:

Seven years after Karan Johar's Student Of The Year (2012), an over-the-top, stylish campus drama that launched bright lights, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra, Punit Malhotra (I Hate Luv Storys, (2010), Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013) takes over the baton from his mentor for this soulless sequel.

Rohan (Tiger) a student, athlete and kabaddi player from the quotidian Pishorilal Chamandas College, who is infatuated with his childhood sweetheart, Mia (Tara), aspires to become the ‘Student Of The Year’ by winning the Inter-College Dignity Cup. He also follows Mia to the affluent St Teresa College, courtesy his sports scholarship. However, he is belittled by Manav (Aditya), the trustee’s son, who is the reigning college champ.

Manav’s sister, the utterly spoilt Shreya (Ananya), falls for Rohan. Things take an ugly turn when their life gets tangled by failure, manipulation and heartbreak. Rohan is rusticated from St Teresa and goes back to Pishorilal College. Bruised and battered, he challenges Manav to clinch the coveted Student of the Year trophy. Phew! 

Review:

The script here is commonplace, but it is packaged at a desi designer warehouse. Everything around is beautiful – read Dehradun/Mussoorie. However, the film falls short on all creative counts. Of course, if you’re in for the superficial thrills, you are in for a visual treat. Girls with hot bodies in minis dot the backdrop. Guys with hotter bodies showing six-packs abs leave you spellbound. On this campus, studies are incidental and extra-curricular activities include sports and romance.

However, there is no precedent to live up to here. This is the kind of film which draws inspiration from the Archie comics with Tiger being Archie, flanked by a Veronica (Ananya) and Betty (Tara). But even Archie was addictive because he had soul and humour. SOTY2 lacks emotion. The linear, soulless story-telling is tepid. The only time you open your eyes is to ogle at Tiger Shroff.

From the start of his career, this charismatic star son, who does back-flips (like a winded-up toy), lands reverse kicks like Jean-Claude Van Damme, is as sprightly as Bruce Lee, dances like Michael Jackson or closer home, ballerina, Hrithik Roshan, has constantly been let down by his directors. They have tried to marry their mediocrity to Tiger’s terrific physical form. Of course, the intent is to charm the box office, audience be damned.

Now, a few words about the girls. Tara as the gold-digger is insipid and anal. Ananya is a shade better, but rolls her eyes way too much. Both girls have envious teenage forms, but lack screen-character. In the future, with an investment from a real filmmaker, the girls may bloom. Aditya Seal could make an interesting villain if he does a little more than just stare daggers! Here, he has more clothes in his wardrobe than expressions on his face.

The piece de resistance of the film is a 60-second appearance by Hollywood superstar Will Smith. Honestly, when he shows up to shake a leg, he dwarfs everyone including apna Tiger. Will's aura is worth the price of the cinema ticket. 

Verdict:

Apart from Will Smith's miss-if-you-blink appearance, watch SOTY 2 for Tiger. Even when things around him are caving in, his ballerina grace is intact. One star in the rating is reserved for Tiger.