The King is Back: Shahrukh Khan & Priyanka Chopra Sizzle in Don 2 (Movie Review)
Shahrukh Khan returns as unstoppable criminal Don in "Don 2" (Photo: Reliance Entertainment)
What do you get when you add “King of Bollywood” Shahrukh Khan, witty writing, stylized action and a power-packed two and a half hours of entertainment? Farhan Akhtar’s “Don 2″.
For every ten Bollywood movies that make you want to roll your eyes in despair, you can rest easy knowing that the latest installment in the Don franchise will remind you of why you love Hindi cinema.
The sequel kicks off five years from where the previous film ended, with Don successfully deceiving the police, the mob, and audiences around the world. This time, the villainous hero sets his sights on the European cartel and billionaire status by way of European currency plate theft. Taking us across Thailand, Switzerland, and Germany, and with Don’s “jungli billi” Roma (Priyanka Chopra) hot on his trail, what ensues is essentially one sexy game of cat and mouse. This Don is bigger and better, not to mention sleeker and fiercer. Not only have the characters upped the ante, but so have the filmmaker and his actors.
The most alluring factor is the action–the sequences are riveting and choreographed to the highest caliber. These are stunts and chase sequences that could rival some of the best of Hollywood–a rare feat for an Indian film. The highly anticipated car chase and stunt where we see Don fall from a high-rise building live up to the hype. Though there can be similarities drawn to the Mission Impossible and James Bond series, “Don 2″ manages to keep its uniqueness and integrity in tact by keeping its own spin on things. The last half hour boasts of some of the better Indian cinema in recent times. The action is gripping, engaging and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s evident that both Khan and Chopra have gone through vigorous action training.
Kudos to writers Farhan Akhtar, Ameet Mehta and Amrish Shah for taking “Don 2″ to such new and unchartered territory. There are some jaw-dropping twists but, most importantly, Don’s trademark one-liners meet every expectation. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic but always charming. Akhtar’s direction and execution leave you wondering why this man doesn’t make films more often, but judging by what’s on display, he is clearly a man of quality versus quantity.
Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra sizzle onscreen as Don and Roma (Photo: Reliance Entertainment)
Of the performances, Kunal Kapoor and Lara Dutta are wonderful additions to the cast, both playing their roles rather effortlessly. Chopra surprises with a Lara Croft-esque demeanor. It is so refreshing to finally see a female character kick ass and take names in a Hindi film. The actress can easily add this to her growing repertoire, alongside “Fashion”, “Kaminey” and “7 Khoon Maaf”.
But the biggest gift is Khan’s ability to have chemistry with anything and everything. He and Chopra prove that your characters do not need to have a romantic relationship to sizzle onscreen. Khan is a man who could easily get lazy at this stage in his career, but he hands over a performance that is as good as anything we’ve seen from him to date. He’s in great shape here and delivers his lines with undeniable charm. All of the little nuances–from the villainous laugh to the crooked smile, or even the way he puffs on his cigarette–he will seduce you, even if he’s playing an irredeemably evil man. And Khan might be the only actor who has the power to be a loathsome villain and yet force the audience to root for him.
Verdict? With the holiday weekend, there is no real reason for “Don 2″ to not pull in massive crowds and beautifully cap off 2011. Take your family to this one. Heck, go by yourself, if you have to. Because ultimately, it’s a must-watch and a sign of how far Hindi cinema has come today.
Saniya Tabani is a contributing writer to Divanee.com.
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