KICK MOVIE REVIEW

Kick continues superstar Salman Khan’s love affair with Southern remakes. The script is tailor-made for ‘Bhai’ and the film showcases him in the way we all love him the most – macho, wacky, funny, larger than life and all things heroic. The film works big time for Salman fans and for anyone looking for a fun commercial entertainer with a little dose of sentiment, romance and lots of action.

The first half begins interestingly with Shaina (Jacqueline Fernandez) and Himanshu Tyagi (Randeep Hooda) meeting up as a prospective wedded pair. They both discuss their lives with each other and share how one person has made the biggest impact in their respective lives. That one person happens to be Salman Khan (as the forever hyper Devi Lal Singh in Shaina’s life and as the master con-artist 'Devil' in Himanshu’s life). Of course Shaina and Himanshu don’t know that they are after the same person, until later in the second half.

Though Salman is unlawful, he is still a hero at the end of the day and the people whom he targets for his con jobs, are the actual villains in the plot. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the main villain and his performance is enjoyably dramatic and over-the-top. He can ace any kind of role, it seems.

We get to see Salman in all his glory in this film. That French beard suits him so well and he shines in all the action scenes, dance sequences and in the playful romance scenes as well. The way he walks past a speeding train after a high-octane cycle chase sequence, is just too good to be true. And that ‘bungee jump’-like free fall from a tall skyscraper is another terrific moment for Salman in the film. For any Salman admirer, Kick will be a wholesome treat from start to finish. Does he look like he is pushing 50? Not at all ... 

Mithun Chakraborty as Salman’s crazy dad and Saurabh Shukla as Jacqueline’s concerned dad are two contrasting yet enjoyable characters in a typically filmy way. Randeep Hooda has to be among the most trim and proper on-screen cops in recent times. In the little time that we take our eyes away from Salman, Randeep makes a definite mark.

Other veterans like Archana Puran Singh, Sanjai Mishra and Vipin Sharma get a scene or two to show their acting mettle.

This has to be Jacqueline’s first full-fledged solo lead role in a main hero’s film. She is stoic and serious for the most part before bursting into a jaw-dropping dance / acrobatic sequence in the ‘Jumme Ki Raat’ number. She is such a looker!

The hot and happening Nargis Fakhri is seen in a special appearance in the super-groovy ‘Yaar Naa Miley’ number and Jacqueline does the honors again in the end credits for the same track. Salman’s turn behind the mike in the ‘Hangover’ track is a success. All the songs are a visual treat thanks to their grand and glossy treatment.

The visuals are fantastic in all the numerous action scenes as well. Good work by DoP Ayananka Bose and the visual effects team. Stefan Richter and Anal Arasu take credit for the stunts and they have packed quite a punch, given the grand scale and budget of the film. Of course, we have to suspend disbelief in all the chase scenes as logic goes for a toss.

There is a fun animated segment too, early in the movie, to set up Salman’s character as someone who is forever after ‘kick’ in life. Holograms have also been used intelligently in the film in a particular instance.

Director Sajid Nadiadwala, the extensive screenplay team and editor Rameshwar Bhagat can be patted on their backs for keeping the audiences entertained over the duration of the film. The film doesn’t drag and with a hero like Salman in such fine form, Kick ticks all the boxes required of a commercial entertainer.