By Shevaal Singh (@being_shevaal)
Cast
- Saif Ali Khan as Ranvir Singh
- Deepika Padukone as Elena
- John Abraham as Armaan Malik
- Jacqueline Fernandez as Omisha/Tanya Martin
- Anil Kapoor as Robert D’Costa (RD)
- Ameesha Patel as Cherry
- Rajesh Khattar as Vikram Thapar
- Bipasha Basu as Sonia (Cameo Appearance)
Director : Abbas-Mustan
‘Race 2’ has every ingredient of an Abbas Mustan flick. It’s got lots of plain out sexy glamour, stunning style and the eye candy heroes with gorgeous ladies with characters with more dimensions than the usual , several enjoyable background music and dance tracks that will make every dance floor sizzle and the sexiest most beastly cars and overriding every other thing is the money!
The sequel to the 2008 blockbuster, ‘Race also starts off with a bang. The petrol tank of a bright yellow Lamborghini is shot at, and th monster ride explodes into flames after which Inspector Robert D’Costa’s (Anil Kapoor) voiceover introduces Arman Malik (John Abraham) for whom nothing holds more importance than money. Then, Arman’s half-sister Eleana (Deepika Padukone), who owns half of Malik’s empire is presented a woman who leaves no stone unturned in broadening her property. Deepika’s stylist deserves a wholehearted applaud as Padukone’s fashion and look is ultra-gorgeous and is definitely trend setting for all women of fashion. Omeesha (Jaqueline Fernandez) is Arman’s girlfriend who is a total vixen with her exotic looks and amazing physique and then there is The Ranveer Singh (Saif Ali Khan). This time around and he is craving Arman’s blood.
A tremendously dumb Ameesha Patel playing Anil’s sidekick Cherry can mouth profoundly innuendo-laden sentences like “When will you pop my cherry?”, but is unbearably stupid at understanding others . However, Ameesha, who steps into the shoes of Sameera Reddy, doesn’t really come across as anything more than a useless accessory. Patel doesn’t really have any role to play apart from the sex-hungered secretary who tries to jump at her boss at even the slightest occasion.
The story involves casinos, lavish numbers of Audis which at times make you wonder whether or not the film is a giant commercial for the car brand. There’s actually a cleverly put in sentence promoting a model of the car too. People in this film speak of money in millions and billions of Euros and the style quotient is so much in the film that even in the pouring rain while sobbing in front of a grave Saif cannot take his glares off! There are twists and turns and some extra-long winding chase scenes which could definitely have been reduced.The movie apart from the amount of money put in constructing it bit by bit, and its action sequences there is actually nothing much to for in this movie. It is very glittery and it actually makes it blinding at times and most definitely yes – betrayal is survival . Saif gets to mouth some of the best dialogues in the two and a half hours of blasts and twists and turns. Like you will see Ranveer saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold”, “Race humesha meri hi thi aur meri hi rahegi… (The race was always mine, and will always be mine…)”
When it comes to acting, excluding Ameesha Patel most have lived up to their roles. Saif, reprising Ranveer’s role from the original, does a great job this time too. John Abraham’s character is decorated in the darker shades of grey and with action Abraham plays the cold-blooded Arman Malik well. He tries hard to provide his character with the required depth and succeeds mostly. Deepika’s acting skills are going up with every single film of hers. If in ‘Cocktail’ she played the carefree Veronica to the hilt, here she ups her performance with the shrewd Eleana. Jaqueline Fernandez has some really stylish fencing and archery scenes in the film only that their purpose evades the senses as well as her wicked charm and dance moves in the quest for seducing Ranveer in the hearthrobbing Lat Lag Gayee . Anil Kapoor in his fruit-loving Robert D’Costa avatar validates the role entirely.
An almost blink and miss cameo by Bipasha Basu is the basic premise of the film and the lady doesn’t disappoint. The supporting cast of Aditya Pancholi and Rajesh Khattar play along well. As for Ameesha Patel, enough said already!
Salim-Sulaiman’s background score matches the highly powerful action scenes completely and is a huge advantage for the story without it, the film might have been a pretty damp affair. Music director Pritam has a song for everyone with the slow and sensual Be Intehaan and the amazing Party On My Mind not forgetting Lat Lag Gayee and the revised Allah Duhai hai and Kiran Kamath’s mash up !
The most famous song of the film, ‘Allah duhai hai’, ironically, comes across as unintentionally placed at a moment which makes it unnecessary. ‘Be intehaan’ in Atif Aslam and Sunidhi Chauhan’s voice is an enjoyable one. The music of the film is mostly for moments when you have a party on your mind – literally! It’s time to party mood music…
The film is defined by its well defined and crazy action sequences and a lot of it. Shiraz Ahmed’s story doesn’t come across as the most defining feature of the film which can be blamed on the excessive action for that. The film is left open-ended and – I can bet anything on this by saying there’s definitely a sequel to this coming up soon. The story isn’t able to keep one glued to the screen your attention sways from not-enjoyable to boring several times
‘Race 2’ is a grand display of money with the adrenaline-pumping action is the plus point of the film but too much of that does no good to it. If you looking for a high paced action movie with the thrills and extra frills Race 2 is the way to go … The movie scores a 7.5/10 from me for its amazing locations and sexy weapons along with the amazing cars with a dreamy cast that leaves you feeling like saying lat lag gayee !!
