Hero

To begin with, if a person is eager enough to either appreciate or criticize HERO just because its produced & presented by Salman Khan then that would be a faulty way of watching or rating the film unarguably. So let us keep 'The Salman factor' associated with the project aside and consider this as an important debut venture of a young 'industry' couple willing to win over the audience through their honest efforts.

But moving ahead, the second hurdle HERO is bound to face inevitably is the comparison with its original musical gem HERO (released in 1983), that is still fresh in the minds as well as in the precious collection of Hindi film music lovers all over the world. The present version of HERO largely follows Ghai's classic in the first half and therefore cannot avoid the comparisons drawn by the viewers, being an official remake coming after 32 long years.

However, respecting the makers as well as the debutants relying a lot on the film, I would like to keep the comparison for the later part of the review and begin with the film as a fresh release presented with a major publicity campaign. So as a love story with the catchy title HERO, introducing two youngsters from the families belonging to the industry itself, what can be the first thing expected from the film by the excited viewers?

The very first thing has to be some kind of novelty in the project in terms of storyline, execution, sequences, action, conflicts, the loving chemistry and the soundtrack making it a worth watching experience for all. But sadly Nikhil Advani's HERO has got nothing to offer in these crucial departments and the film simply remains a lazily or rather unintelligently made project relying too heavily on the person promoting it from the front having a gigantic fan following. In fact watching the film progressing so boringly on a badly written script with nothing engrossing at all happening in those two hours, one is forced to assume that maybe it's the case of too many cooks spoiling the dish as the saying goes. Probably too much interference coming from all corners (Shettys, Pancholis & Khans) turned the film into an unentertaining mess that was supposed to be a remake of a highly enjoyable and hit movie of the 80s. Commencing on a very poor note following the typical Bollywood format and a below average party song, HERO fails to make any kind of impact within its first 20 minutes itself and then everything happening so quickly defying all the logics simply puts the viewer off before the intermission only. Post interval it even stops following the original and goes on with its own clichéd and mediocre plot with no sense of time-gaps or logical justifications as such.

To say the least, there is no depth found in either the two persons loving or the others opposing their love right till the climax. As a result, you never feel like watching an intense love story with a lot of conflict involved. The film begins and keeps delivering the same seen before sequences one after another without caring about the people sitting in the theater having spent their hard earned money and time. In other words, HERO of 2015 can easily be presented as a perfect example of most irresponsible film made in the present times playing with two young careers.

Also its a film having the most inappropriate people chosen as the cast, who fail to establish any kind of connect with the given roles be it a father, an uncle, a bhabhi, a mother or the villains. So where Tigmanshu Dhulia falters big time in playing the father (despite being a gifted performer), the rest of the actors simply play their roles as another usual assignment signed to earn some quick bucks. And as it is said, nothing can hamper a film more badly than a wrong casting.

A fine cinematography and action accompanied by some mediocre writing, sloppy editing and dull dialogues keep affecting the film at various points. Like its really amusing to notice an inspector suddenly giving the instructions from a helicopter, who was just doing the same at the ground in exactly the previous shot. Moreover a scene showing the girl praying to BUDDHA considering him as a GOD, clearly reveals how much less the writers as well as the youngsters know about the enlightened soul and his views about the existence of God.

A big letdown in the music department too, the only likable track remains the Salman Khan number that has been arranged well with a catchy hook line working fine. But God knows when the music directors would understand that by only calling in Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to render a track doesn't ensure you a hit song always.

Coming to the two debutantes, Sooraj certainly has got a decent screen presence with a solid physique to display, particularly in the actions sequences and Athiya Shetty looks pretty in some specific scenes only to put it honestly. However as far as the performances are concerned, they both got to thank their 'surnames' much more than the inherited talent, that needs to be accepted as a harsh truth at this particular point of time (as nobody knows what fate or luck has in store for them in the coming years).

In few words, Nikhil Advani's film quite brutally and shamelessly murders Ghai's HERO, particularly while adapting its fabulously written characterizations. And thus cannot be recommended for anything at all.

One of the major strength of original Hero, is its magical music, which is still far far better than this Hero tracks. It seems that either creative team was reluctant or confused while making this flick. Story wise, I could not understand it. Screenplay fetch irritating comedy and out dated love scenes, like male protagonist offers Jacket to female, that is in a club!!! Girl says that "Main Kabhi Akele Khana Nahi Khati" so that boy can join her!!! I didn't get the point, why she started loving him, perhaps for his six packs!! Oops eight packs. I.G whispers in criminal ear but just then pours water on his face in front of every one. What a contradictory behavior!? Film starts with typical super star type fight scene and a dance number. Any actor earns superstardom by time not by showing off. Girls brother sees that her sister is not on gun point or any forceful manner, she is riding as pillion then why did he not prefer to announce on P.A to inform her sister and clear all confusion, just because it has to be interval point!? Film moves to different locations just for showing the beauty of locations not for the requirement of script. You can easily find the bruise mark on male protagonist face, changing places and intensity in song "Khoya Khoya Dil". They took care about bruise mark at least but just forgot about gun shot. Movie is already slow and pre climax makes it just crawling. Performance wise Sooraj Pancholi as Sooraj is as flat as he could have been. Speaking lines is his only performance. Surprisingly Athiya Shetty as Radha looks beautiful in some frames and acts well too. She has a spark. Tigmanshu Dhulia is very good as I.G. Vivaan Bhatena as Ranveer Shekhawat is a damn good actor. Rare combination of good physique with apt performance. Music wise "Yadad Teri Yaddiyann" is melodious.

Why do every star-kid believes that it is his/her fundamental, God- given right to become an actor? Both Sooraj Pancholi & Athiya Shetty fizzle out, deliver a sub-standard performance which should never have occurred.

The only saving grave of the movie is the intense confrontation between Aditya Pancholi and Tigmanshu Dhulia.. except that, the movie sucks.

Completely illogical concept and logic of the screenplay. Even if I assume that the targeted audience of this movie is a 17-year old kid, there is no way you can show Mumbai to Kashmir journey completed in 2 hours or a bullet wounded guy, slipping into a fast flowing river, emerging with nothing but 2 cuts on his arms!

The cliché:' Ek gunda kabhi IG ki ladki se pyaar nahi kar sakta' was repeated so many times, that it was cringe worthy actually. Dialogues are the worst part of this movie.

And Salman bhai's hangover on the whole movie was actually way too much.. his song is played after every 10 minutes, and his style of action, dialogue delivery and antics is visible all the way to the end. As if Nikhil Advani had only been appointed as an obligation.

Disappointing movie.. If you want to retain the magic of the original 'Hero', then don't watch it. 1.5/5

Newcomers have a tough time staying afloat in the volatile entertainment industry. In 2020, when there will be no trace of either of the lead actors of this film, we can finally corroborate that the previous statement is, in fact, true.

After he's done with his theatrics, heroics, and groovy dance moves, Sooraj (Pancholi Jr.) is assigned the task of kidnapping the daughter (Shetty) of the city's Inspector General (Dhulia) by his gangster-turned-politician father (Pancholi Sr.) on grounds of political vendetta. Soon idiotic dialogs encapsulate the drama that has the power to put off its viewers, because in here arguments turn into long-winded sessions of romance, and kidnappers fool around with their captive. Just because the original villain is the real life father of the so-called hero of the film, he's not sent to the gallows at the end. But worry not, because we have some random villains kicking the bucket. It is basically a love story where the characters use words like "calculate" & "alt+shift+delete" to describe the situations. You now know what you're looking at.

Pancholi Jr. has a long way to go if he wants to stick to acting that is not solely driven by his toned body, and Shetty may want to check her options. Taking a French bath and screaming your lungs out is not considered acting. Dhulia is the only good man in the film which eventually drags the hell out to reach a point of stagnancy.

BOTTOM LINE: Hero has a tried and tested story, but the actors playing the characters are like a bunch of toddlers who are yet to grow milk teeth.

GRADE: F

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Sooraj pancholi should be thrown into jail for even daring to think that he can act and waste other people's money and time