Review : Race(2008)

Comments [ 16 ] By Indra D. | 25 March 2008 | 8:19pm

Starring- Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy

Director- Abbas Mustan

Rating- ** (Average)

The makers of nail biting thrillers, Abbas-Mustan are back with a fast-paced thriller this time, aptly titled 'Race'. But does the film have all the ingredients to 'race' past the winning line?

Well, while the film has really made a mark when it comes to Allan Amin's action, the same cannot be said about t Race he film, on the whole! The film lacks in the punches and the suspense does not really boil down to the wire!

The film does make a mark in the style quotient, with the hot Saif Ali Khan, the sexy Bipasha Basu, the gorgeous Katrina, the so-so inspiring Sameera Reddy, the cool, yet miscast Akshaye Khanna and the fruit-eating detective Anil Kapoor in the lead, but even this does not give one the perfect combination!

The story which kicks-off with the Singh brothers, Saif and Akshaye is taken well with the exuberant shots of horse racing in South Africa. While the big bro, Saif toils hard investing in the horse races and making big bucks, the younger bro, Akshaye lives to just enjoy life the easy way, and of course with the aid of the much-loved drink. Well, what's more, the younger one not only eyes his brother's money, but also his girl, as he picks up the girl in his bro's life, Bipasha for himself!! But only later does it unfold that he takes the help of the girl to try and bump off his elder brother so that he can lay hand on his million dollar insurance booty. To add to the mess, there is Katrina Kaif who plays Saif's secretary, in love with him. But this is not the end to it, as the audience is taken for a ride as the plot thickens, more on the confusing lines, as it gets tough to decipher who is love with who and who is gonna be deceived.. Here enters the fruit chewing detective, Anil Kapoor, our modern day Karamchand with his secretary Sameera to investigate a murder track.

While Saif and Bipasha live up to their expectation in the stylized role, Akshaye is a far cry when it comes to his past stupendous performances, as the negative force. Well, Katrina looks gorgeous but the moment she opens her mouth, she loses the zeal and charishma!!

Talking about the much-hyped music of the film, the only stand-outs are the title track and the Atif Aslam number, 'Pehli Nazar'. When it comes to the other songs, lesser the mention, the better!!

A thumbs-up to the film when it comes to the technicality, action, cinematography and editing! Looking at the very craftily placed release on the Holi week, the film with its own flaws gives an indication of working well commercially. A feast for sure, for thriller lovers!!

Sampurn Anand.-(SAMPURN)