Kick Movie Review: Sajid Delivers More Than Just A Salman Khan Show

Now this one gives a kick indeed! Of course it is a clichéd way to begin a review but then the word 'kick' I thrust so many times in the film, especially in the first half, that beyond making the point hard and strong, it also becomes a part of your vocabulary as a viewer. You don't mind that though since the very purpose behind the film for producer turned Sajid Nadiadwala is to give that solid kick, in a good way of course, to the audience which pretty much knows what to expect from the film.

Starting with Jacqueline Fernandez (who gets a lot to do in the film, especially in the first half) to Nawazuddin Siddiqui (who makes sure that he is loved every time he appears on the screen in the second half) to Randeep Hooda (who is the only consistent factor in the film other than Salman Khan right through the narrative), every one of them looks at Kick as that one hardcore mainstream film which has in it to make them all the more saleable when it comes to a commercial outing.

Thankfully, none of them depended on just the Salman power to take the film past that 100 crore milestone and mark their entry into that not-so-exclusive-anymore club. The game is that of 200 crore for the film and in that aspect, each of these actors can pretty much pat themselves on their back (and also send a note of thanks to their director) while contributing well to the overall run that Kick would enjoy.

No wonder, Randeep finds himself appearing on the screen much before Salman Khan makes his entry and then shares screen space with him at the interval point as well as the very last shot of the film. No mean feat for any actor, be it Randeep or someone relatively inexperienced, to be enjoying a good enough characterization when a film has Salman Khan written all over it. As a cop, the love-hate camaraderie that he shares is so much enjoyable that you like very interaction that the duo has and that too at every juncture with the scene reaching its crescendo till the last scene which is a riot by all means.

What is not really a riot are the first 30 minutes of the film that seem like a collage of Salman Khan's act from the likes of Dabangg, Ready, Ek Tha Tiger to anything and everything else that he has done since post-Wanted days. Frankly, even though it is entertaining in bits, one does wonder when would the real plot 'kick' in. Oh yes, there are a couple of mandatory smile-through action sequences, a song or two (which may well have been done away with), a comic scene or two and then the usual wooing of the heroine. Naah, you wanted something that indeed goes with the title and the wait becomes a tad longer.

However, once Randeep starts telling his tale from the past and gives Jacqueline know-how of what he had gone through, the fun begins. Devi Lal and Devil, the two sides of Salman Khan, promise the kind of jugalbandi on screen which does so well in adding on pace to Kick that it goes on a relentless pace. In fact the interval point is brilliant to the core and though there are a couple of mandatory 'time please' scenes immediately into the second half, Sajid Nadiadwala puts the film back on fourth gear soon after.

From this point on, there is no looking back for Kick as the pace of the film accelerates and good credit for that must also go to the characters of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vipin Sharma and Rajat Kapoor who add a lot to the plot. Drama, action, humor - all of this adds to the fun element but beyond all of that, my personal favorite is the emotional flashback sequence that establishes how Devi Lal became Devil. Frankly, this is the best part of the film and also showcases Sajid Nadiadwala's hold over the medium, despite the fact that this is his first endeavor as a director. Finale is of course a masterstroke and a complete riot.

Salman does very well and brings on good nuances to his characterization that sets his act apart from what he has done in the recent past. He is fun, but never frivolous, which brings in added credibility to his performance. Jacqueline is controlled, looks glamorous and comes up with a classy act, especially in a key confrontation scene with Salman where she holds on to her emotions well. She looks extremely beautiful in each and every song with some stunning moves in Jumme Ki Raat followed by an enticing performance in her version of 'Devil' song. As for Nargis Fakhri, she looks delightful in the same song.

As for Randeep, he seems a little out of his place in his train journey but then comes on his own once his story begins. From this point on, he gets to play much more than just a supporting actor part and is very loveable in the last scene of the film. A wonderful act indeed. Nawazuddin Siddiqui catches the mood of a commercial film well and while his laughter may see extreme reactions, he is superb in the climax. Immediately after that, Vipin Sharma brings the house down with the final scene, hence justifying his choice for doing the film. Saurabh Shukla is good as always though one has seen better from Sanjay Mishra. Mithun Chakraborty and Archana Puran Singh are just okay.

As it happens, you do get more than what could have been bargained for, and that is primarily due to the fact that despite Salman Khan dominating the scene in practically every frame, Sajid makes sure that the additional characters are well integrated into the film and add a lot of value, something that accentuates the overall impact made by Kick.

Joginder Tuteja tweets@tutejajoginder