Action Replayy is an entertainer with a bold ‘E.’ Thematically the film does not offer anything fresh (the central idea is borrowed from the Hollywood blockbuster Back to the Future), but there are some superb moments in the romantic comedy which takes us on a welcome nostalgic trip to the glittery ’70s.

Another reason for watching the film is its lead pair of Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai. Both of them had a brief romantic interlude many years ago (2004) in Rajkumar Santoshi’s Khakee, in which Ash had a negative role. Hence the excitement of their first proper pairing as a lead couple.

Both the actors are seen in excellent form here. They light up the screen with Akki Baba doing an endearing take on his superstar father-in-law Rajesh Khanna and Ash reminding us of the ultimate ’70s prima donnas, Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi.

Kishen (Akshay) and Mala (Aishwarya) are parents to Bunty (Aditiya Roy Kapoor) who is distressed and disturbed by the perpetual brawls between them. It has put him off the institution of marriage much to the chagrin of his girlfriend Tanya (Sudeepa Singh) who seeks a marriage commitment from him. Things become even more dispiriting for the boy when Tanya’s madcap scientist grandfather, Professor Anthony Gonsalves (Randhir Kapoor), gives him an ultimatum to marry his granddaughter or leave her for good.

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Bunty has to resort to desperate measures to salvage his plummeting love life…and also induce some romance into the lives of his warring parents. So he steals Professor Gonsalves’s time machine, whizzes back to the ’70s and makes Kishen and Mala fall in love with each other.

The film becomes even more hilarious with Bunty finding out he had bitten off more than he can chew as he tries to broker a truce between his grandparents — Kishen’s father Rai Bahadur (Om Puri) and Mala’s mother Boli Devi (Kiron Kher) who are sworn enemies. But an even more uphill task awaits our lad-to kindle love between Kishen and Mala which is easier said than done...Mala is quite a loud babe about town who detests Kishen as he is a nerd and is bullied and brutalised by his father. But with patience and through many silly situations, Bunty manages to turn his dad from a blockhead into a debonair bachelor which ultimately has his mom falling for his loutish imperturbable charms.

Musically, the soundtrack of Action Replayy is already a big rage with at least two numbers — Zor Ka Jhatka and Chhan Ke Mohalla Sara — becoming the hottest dance numbers around these days. Pritam Chakraborty has managed to come up with compositions that are fine tuned to the demands of the day.Action Replayy has garnered international attention. The Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars) has sent an official letter of invitation to include the film’s screenplay in its huge collection. A joint venture of director Vipul Shan and Aatish Kapadia, the screenplay will be available at the prestigious Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy for the benefit of students of cinema as well as film-makers for research and study purposes.

Full of comedy, colour and infectious ’70s trivia, Action Replayy’s rewind mode takes you back to the fun-filled days of disco, bell bottoms, long hair and sideburns, big collars, frilly cuffs, gaudy clothes and the scooter. It is one heck of a retro trip.