/> Starring: Riteish Deshmukh, Koena Mitra, Shreyas Talpade, Riya Sen, Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav
Directed by Sangeeth Sivan
Rating: *

Looking at the bright side, this comedy, ha ha, is decidedly less vulgar and suggestive than director Sangeeth Sivan's Kya Kool Hain Hum. That, if one may say so, was the pits.

Mercifully there are no cat-humping jokes to boost the chuckle quotient in Apna Sapna.... What the plot lacks in innovativeness is made up for by a certain breathless momentum and crass candour that's meant to drive audiences into over-the-top gear. And never mind the finer sensitivities. At least the cats are left alone this time.

The story about the run for precious diamonds gives Riteish Deshmukh a fine, if somewhat dull, actor a chance to try out numerous get-ups including a drag act which is dead-on. Deshmukh sinks his teeth inti the job at hand with more than passing interest.

Alas, the material provided to sustain his skills at role-changing is so slim, you wonder which came first: the farce or the flair that Deshmukh dares to air.

Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav provide a comic consistency to the proceedings that tend to get cock-eyed. Yadav's take-off on Mr Bachchan from Sarkar would've been funny if it wasn't so put-on.

To their credit, all the actors male and female have themselves a whale of a time. So much so that after a while you begin to feel guilty for casting a cynical eye on what's finally meant to be nothing but an innocuous farce-fest. To that extent, Money Money gives you your money's worth.

Specially rib-tickling are the scenes where Deshmukh (constantly poker-faced and solemn in his satirical stabs) is wooed by Anupam Kher. The two-some aren't quite Kamal Haasan-Amrish Puri in Chachi 420.

But does anyone really expect this farce to live up to any other standards than those set by Masti, Malaamal Weekly and Phir Hera Pheri?

Just one word of advice for those who expect some laughs. Your belly won't ache. Though going by the level of noise pollution, your ears sure will.

As for the stretched-out comic season that started with Indra Kumar's Masti two years ago.... Enough!