OMG 2 Review: Akshay shines but Pankaj Tripathi scores in this film on sex education

It is a treacherous path when a film sets out to send a message without compromising on its entertainment quotient.

Amit Rai’s ‘OMG 2’ walks the tightrope of catering to the superstardom of Akshay Kumar and opening up a conversation on the sensitive subject of sex education. The 2012 predecessor to ‘OMG 2’ was a sleeper hit and starred Paresh Rawal in the lead.

The 2023 follow-up has Pankaj Tripathi in the role of a small town Shiv bhakt Kanti Mudgal. When his juvenile son gets caught in an MMS controversy where he’s filmed masturbating in his school, hell breaks loose over Kanti’s life and family. Kanti’s son, Vivek, not only faces stigma and is ostracised by his school but also by society at large. Akshay Kumar, who plays a Shiv devotee, intervenes with divine intention to help Kanti fight a court case that has him take on forces larger than him and redeem his son’s self-respect.

‘OMG 2’ has the right blend of humour, wit and realism topped with dollops of powerhouse acting by a solid ensemble cast led by Pankaj Tripathi. Amit Rai’s writing is sharp and the dialogues are on the money. Everyone from Kanti’s daughter to the judge overseeing his case to his assistant is aptly cast to play roles that feel organically written for these actors.

Despite the clouds of an important topic like sex education looming large over the entire duration of the film, the pace and tempo of the film never falter. Yami Gautam, who plays the opposing lawyer defending the school, is brilliant. We can’t think of a single actor in the film who doesn’t wow you with his/her acting chops.

Here’s the trailer:

Akshay Kumar feels apt for the part and has that mischievous smile and glint in his eye throughout the entire duration of the film. His scenes with Tripathi are a major highlight. The way Rai has tackled the taboo and stigma associated with sex education is simply amazing.

On the flip side, the second half, especially the final 20-30 minutes, feels disjointed and a bit too stretched. The courtroom scenes sometimes fall flat and the pauses between dialogues are far too long.

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.

4 out of 5 stars for ‘OMG 2’.