Mumbai: Akshay Kumar has made a smashing comeback to the action genre. While the central plot is commonplace, the screenplay packs a solid punch. The movie bestows Akshay with abundant opportunity to flaunt each shade of his skill, say critics.

"Vivid colors, rustic background and conventional dance routines... Rowdy Rathore follows the existing trend to create more homespun, home-flavored desi movies rather than pursue the money-spinning NRI souk that has, until recently, been the order of the day. While the central plot is pretty commonplace, the screenplay packs a solid punch, with several clap-trap situations interlaced in the narrative, though it slips into the knowable zone at times," says Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama.

"Sure, there are a few limp moments, but a swift narrative outweighs this inadequacy. Besides, stability is maintained in both halves of the film. While the first hour of the film is replete with entertainment, the second half gets into the action mode [the flashback portions are outstanding], but the entertainment values are maintained at the same level. This one is the emblematic formula movie with distinct essentials that Indian masses yearn for," he adds.

"After tickling the audiences with his wit and humour for years, now our very own Khiladi Akshay Kumar is back with raw action in his latest release Rowdy Rathore. Directed by the dance guru Prabhi Deva, Rowdy Rathore is a remake of the Telugu blockbuster Vikramarkudu.

Rowdy Rathore is a full-blown masala entertainer, that will surely impress you with Akki's desi punches, colourful songs and lots of romance," reports OneIndia.com.

"Rowdy Rathore gets full marks on the entertainment factor and everything associated with it. The quality of the script? Never mind! If the 'package' is all that matters in Bollywood, then Rowdy Rathore couldn't have gotten a better wrapper -- it's shiny, it's colorful and it gets your attention right from the first scene," writes Soumyadipta Banerjee, In.com.

Not all critics agree though. Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV says: "Rowdy Rathore is a shrill action flick designed to help Akshay Kumar return to his hit-making ways. Accept that obvious intent and you might actually end up enjoying certain parts of the film against your own better counsel. Isn’t that the effect that many a Bollywood potboiler of the 1980s would have on us?"

Strong screenplay
"The screenplay, based on the Telugu hit, is commonplace but entertaining in parts. Especially, the comedy scenes work well with the audiences. The initial portion of the drama, when Shiva’s character is being introduced, is lovely. Ditto for the pre-climax and the climax.

The screenplay of the latter half is such that there is ample scope for action, which has been choreographed very well," writes Mrigank Dhaniwala, Koimoi.com.