OMG 2

wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list ^(?)

quick review:

A half-decent discussion on a much-needed discourse, unfortunately, is only a half-decent discourse.

Director: Amit Rai

Cast: Yami Gautam, Pankaj Tripathi

Running time: 135 minutes

Genres: Social

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Certainly, we need to know that the prohibition on talking about sex is unnecessary. So much so that just by existing, such talk earns brownie points. After all, it has brought the forbidden to the table. For it to be a well-made film though, it has to be more than a drawing-room conversation.

Having a woman play the villain, given the subject of the film, is a nice touch too.

OMG2's story seems as force-fitted as any other film which wears its agenda on the sleeve. The conclusion is ready. Everything that comes before is wedged into place. And if a response to an action doesn’t suit this motive, it is brushed under the carpet, if mentioned at all. Even if it is the most obvious reaction a human would have.

Then comes what seems like a lazy option to have such a discussion—a courtroom drama. I can see the lure. The format lends itself to being entertaining. But, it also feels like a copout especially when the writers have decided that there are no valid arguments against their agenda. Else, at the very least, they would have tried to give the lawyers in the opposition stronger opinions than “ridd-iculous”, “shameless!”, “the victim has an agenda of saving themselves…” Yeah, that last one is both ridiculous and shameless.

I didn’t enjoy the divine intervention either. Why invoke Them for a problem that humans created? But I understand that the convinced are not the film’s target audience. The need to invoke God to influence those less aware is ironically logical. But is the tackiness-smugness combination unavoidable? The unnecessary inclusion of drama towards the end of the film does it no service.

As much as I appreciate Akshay Kumar backing discussions on taboo topics in his films, I am glad the movie doesn’t bombard us with his presence. Else, tolerating that know-it-all expression constantly would have been painful. I do acknowledge that the preachiness has reduced considerably over the films. And yet, it has a long way to go.

It does help that Pankaj Tripathi, playing Kanti, carries much of the teaching load. He brings sincerity to all the grandstanding. After all, Kanti's main argument revolves around reminding us of what was in Indian scriptures. That sex is a natural act, and the distastefulness it is treated with is the doing of British prudishness take a back seat. But that is what would happen in a drawing room conversation, and Kanti isn't a lawyer. So, Tripathi does the role and its opinions much justice. Also contributing a My Cousin Vinny flavour to the proceedings.

Having a woman play the villain, given the subject of the film, is a nice touch, too. Though I do wish Yami Gautam's Kamini had weightier arguments. She can only do so much with the material she's given.

If a character’s response doesn’t suit the film’s motive, it is brushed under the carpet, if mentioned at all. Even if it is the most obvious reaction a human would have.

OMG2 gets added to the list of films about topics that need attention but does so as a sermon rather than convey it through a story. I get that the filmmakers think a direct approach will be more accessible to their audience. I don't agree. Also, we won't have a 'boy-meets-girl' number of films on the topic. So only the few that are made have to take on the onus of doing it well. A half-decent discussion on a much-needed discourse, unfortunately, is only a half-decent discourse.

- meeta, a part of the audience

24 reviewers^(?) - 15 yays 8 so-so 1 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...Giving a another reason for OMG 2 being far ahead of any other Hindi film on a similar subject in the past.... full review

Thumbs up, by Urmimala Banerjee, Bollywood Life : ...Amit Rai has sealed his place as an intelligent and masterful storyteller with OMG 2. This movie is a treat for all fans of Pankaj Tripathi who is fab. Akshay Kumar is back with a film that harnesses his charisma in the right manner. Do watch this film with your adolescent children as it has the positive message that piety, pleasure, love and sexual exploration can co-exist in a healthy beautiful manner.... full review

Thumbs up, by Aman Wadhwa, DNA : ...The Amit Rai directorial has already gone through multiple cuts and changes in the last few days, so much so that even the Madhya Pradesh city where the story is set hasn't been mentioned once. Before OMG 2 suffers more, head to your nearest theatres with your family and watch this important film.... full review

Thumbs up, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...Watch the film for its powerful message and for the brilliant acting on display by the ensemble cast.... full review

Thumbs up, by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat : ...The bravery of the director and writers shines through in tackling a topic that remains largely unexplored in mainstream cinema. Oh My God 2 breaks barriers by addressing the significance of sex education head-on, with the aim of triggering a positive shift in societal attitudes. It is a necessary watch for teenagers, parents, and educators alike, opening up essential conversations and fostering a more informed and responsible approach to this crucial aspect of human development.... full review

Thumbs up, by Tulasi Neppali, fullhyd.com : ...OMG 2 is an impressive piece of storytelling, especially if you consider all the gimmicks that a lesser filmmaker may have grabbed onto to convey Indian historical pride. Although "God" drops in the clues for Kanti to pick up, Kanti must still do his homework - read the scriptures, construct arguments, present them logically, orate cleverly and, above all, do it with an air of decency rather than cockiness. It is details like these, and the overall mature treatment of the subject, that make OMG 2 a movie that won my atheistic heart.... full review

Thumbs up, by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com : ...OMG 2 maintains a balance as an entertainer and evolves into an engaging and thought-provoking narrative. It seamlessly weaves entertainment into the critical debate on sex education, addressing pertinent topics and societal taboos with a remarkable blend of sensitivity and depth. OMG 2 acts as a clarion call for the youth to embrace the responsibility of shaping a more informed and enlightened future.... full review

Thumbs up, by Monika Rawal Kukreja, Hindustan Times : ...OMG 2 is the kind of film that is meant for family viewing, as it bridges the gap that has long existed between parents and kids who aren't comfortable talking about certain topics. The film opens a channel for conversations and the need to normalise sex education. Watch it with your kids and you'll go home with a smile, and maybe with a more open mind, too.... full review

Thumbs up, by Tushar P. Joshi, india today : ...Overall, 'OMG 2' is a film that has the right mix of everything. In short, it succeeds in being an entertainer with a valid message. Akshay Kumar's fans will be in for a huge treat where the actor delivers one of his career-best performances.... full review

Thumbs up, by Joyeeta Mitra Suvarna, India TV : ...The energetic background music added to the essence of the film. Mangesh Dhagde's music is great. Songs related to Lord Shiva are very powerful, especially Har Har Mahadev. In this song, both Akshay Kumar's look and dance add to the charm of the film. Apart from this, one also loves the emotional track 'Oonchi Oonchi Wadi'.... full review

Thumbs up, by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY : ...They don’t need to look up, or down; just look at him—slightly chubby cheeks, as if with paan in his mouth, spreading ‘mithaas’ (sweetness), uttering the most profound things, with a lightness of touch that no Indian actor, I know, can match. This script lands, because of the protagonist piloting the pic.... full review

Thumbs up, by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes : ...OMG 2 sets out to accomplish a task and hits the bullseye. Nourished by strong performances from Gautam Dhar, Kumar, Tripathi, and Malhotra, the film is an essential, consequential watch that leaves you brooding. Ultimately, OMG 2's gravest tragedy doesn't lie in any of its passable demerits, it lies in CBFC's decision to shield it from its target audience.... full review

Thumbs up, by Himesh Mankad, Pinkvilla : ...OMG 2 is a well-intentioned film that has its heart at the right place. The film educates without getting too preachy. While the courtroom debates could have been a little more exciting, the biggest W for the film is its ability to engage and entertain despite falling in the bracket of a ‘Taboo’. The irony of the situation lies in the fact that the censor board itself fell for the taboo that the film is trying to address and break. OMG 2 is certainly a film that could start some conversations that people are usually awkward to talk about and full marks to the makers for attempting a film on this subject. It’s also commendable for a mainstream movie star like Akshay Kumar to touch upon the subject of Sex Education. Recommended.... full review

Thumbs up, by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India : ...OMG2 shows you how a film can be entertaining, socially relevant and informative. You don’t need to leave your brain behind to have a good laugh. Take your family along to watch this interesting blend of social commentary and humour.... full review

So-So, by Rahul Desai, Film Companion : ...But then we remember that ‘selfie’ is also slang for masturbating in the film, and all the wrong metaphors come to the fore. At least the title does a decent job of capturing my feelings.... full review

So-So, by Rohit Bhatnagar, Free Press Journal : ...OMG 2 over-promises but under-delivers. The film neither has the gravitas of a thought-provoking courtroom drama nor gives comic relief. It is merely yet another attempt at making a social experiment in mainstream culture on the shoulders of ‘The Akshay Kumar’.... full review

So-So, by Baradwaj Rangan, galatta.com : ...OMG 2 is way too long, and some plot points (like the one involving a big bribe, or the depressed teenage boy at the epicentre of this mess) are not fleshed out very well. But the reason the film is sit-through-able is the cast. Pankaj Tripathi is excellent as alway.... full review

So-So, by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies : ...OMG 2 falters at the writing. I appreciate the guts of the makers (half a star extra for that), but I wish they had brains too.... full review

So-So, by Deepa Gahlot, Rediff : ...Akshay Kumar looks cool in that trippy get-up and adds his charisma to the film that is otherwise a lot of verbiage, without saying much.... full review

So-So, by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in : ...By contrast, Pankaj Tripathi appears hemmed in at all times. Kanti’s emotional journey doesn’t have the sweep it needed to convince us that a deeply religious man has suddenly turned into a super-progressive dad.... full review

So-So, by Pratikshya Mishra, The Quint : ...OMG 2 ends up being a well-intentioned film that could've used more research.... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...To sum up, OMG 2 aspires to be as sharp as a scalpel but is actually as blunt as the back of a knife.... full review

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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

Violence: None.
Language: Clean. Well, the film is about masturbation and sex education.
Nudity & Sexual content: The film is about masturbation and sex education. No nudity, though.
Concept: The importance of sex education.
General Look and Feel: A court-room drama.