Expectations:In the earlier days masked heroes based films on the story line of Robin Hood were quite popular in our Hindi cinema. We have seen actors like Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Hassan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Mehmood and many more essaying the character of masked hero who robs from the rich and keeps helping the poor. The audience loved watching their favourite hero wearing a mask and doing their heroic act. The trend started to fade out with the millennium era and was replaced by the superheroes types of films in our Hindi cinema. Speaking about the trio Khans of our Hindi cinema, one of them opted for a superhero based films and another went out doing a daredevil style of fast paced action film. Probably due to which, the third Khan, Salman Khan opted out to do a masked hero based film on the lines of Robin Hood in his latest film, ’Kick’. Now, Salman Khan is known for making out and out action oriented masala film due to which this concept of masked hero seems pretty exciting for the superstar and his die hard loyal fans, too. So let’s find out, whether Salman Khan’s latest offering in the festive season will manage to do the magic of creating yet another box office history or might end up as an overdose of Salman Khan and his style of cinema.
Story:’Kick’ is a story of Devi Lal Singh(Salman Khan) who loves doing unusual things in his life so that he can enjoy the whole intoxication attached to it. While helping a friend, Devi meets Shaina(Jacqueline Fernandez) and falls in love with her. But before Devi and Shaina could enjoy their companionship, things fall apart and Shaina ends up in Poland. Shaina meets Himanshu(Randeep Hooda), an ace cop who is chasing a robber named Devil(Salman Khan) and what happens next is what the entire film is all about.
Screenplay & Technicalities: The film, as we all know is a remake of a South Indian film with the similar name and starts on a pretty average level. As the movie progresses towards the middle portion, it converts into popular film Dhoom’s style and camouflages itself with the Robin Hood type of settings. The remembrance of the movie’Dhoom’ is so high that it starts to ruin your movie watching experience. Good actors like Randeep Hooda too starts to sleepwalk on the style and concept of’Dhoom’ and’Dhoom 2’. The first half of the movie takes its own sweet time in establishing the story line, but its only after the middle portion, the movie finds its right track. There are some entertaining scenes like Salman’s entry(which also gives tribute to his last few released films), Salman’s animated version, Salman’s fight in ice cream shop, Salman-Mithun Chakraborty drunk scene, the bicycle chase scene followed by Salman - Randeep’s dialogue baazi, Nawaazuddin’s entrance scene, Jacqueline’s dance, drunk scene between Randeep and Salman Khan followed by all other action scenes, finale portions and many more. On the flip side, the story line runs on a very thin script that hampers the film in a big way. Also, the uncanny references to’Dhoom’ series tends to irritate after a certain point. The writers should have opted out for more detailing and something original. The movie runs very low on the logic level, which is mostly accepted only due to the Salman mania attached to it. But, at various places it fails miserably. The forced references to charity groups and the reasoning does not gel with the film. The camera work is good and does full justice to the feel of the film. The action scenes are brilliantly performed and enhances the level of action scenes in our Hindi cinema.
Music & Direction:The music of’Kick’ is good and peppy.’Jumme Ki Raat’ is a huge hit and will woo the audience due to a fantastic dance performance by Jacqueline. The’Devil’ song featuring Nargis Fakhri is foot tapping, but the same song in the finale with dance by Jacqueline is even better.’Hangover’ by Salman Khan as a singer comes as an added charm to the film.
Debutant director Sajid Nadiadwala, ends up being a more of a producer than a director for his upcoming film. He adds the much needed grandeur to the film in terms of action scenes and takes the movie at par with international standards, but while focusing more on this added attraction, he misses out on the writing part.
Performances:Salman Khan adds the much needed Salman Khan mania to this film, which was missed by his fans in his few last released films. He looks cute in romantic scenes, ferocious in the action scenes and charming in the songs. Jacqueline Fernandez looks super sexy and ends up delivering a fine performance. Both Salman and Jacqueline compliment each other and their chemistry on screen is flattering. Randeep Hooda tries to ape Abhishek Bachchan’s character from the film’Dhoom’, and fails to do proper justice to his role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is fantastic and does his part at ease. I wished, his screen presence could have been more. But even with the given screen time, he is super impactful. Mithun Chakraborty, Archana Puran Singh, Vipin Sharma, Sanjay Mishra and Saurabh Shukla, lend good support.
So bol meri’Filmi Khopdi’ iss film mein kitna hain Dum?
Dum? Well, there is lots of dum for all those seeking a masala entertaining film with good music, fast pace actions and star power attached to it. The logic hunters in such type of films might end up getting disappointed as usual. The movie might not be on the lines of Salman Khan’s super entertaining films like’Wanted’, ’Dabangg’ or even’Ek Tha Tiger’, but is far better and entertaining than his recently released films like’Jai Ho’, ’Dabangg 2’, ’Bodyguard’ and few more. It’s got the entire ingredients required for an engaging film and will entertain its targeted audience for whom their lovable Salman Bhai machaye Dhoom, but in his own style.