While it might not be the best opinion to classify young writers and directors to a specific style or segment, there is something compelling and unique about the story telling of great directors that makes their fans count days for the release. Story writers in this category not only leave lasting impressions, but always carry a trademark of their method and style which brings that smile in the end, even when they explore diverse subjects or hop genres. Farhan Akhtar is the man who gave us that range with DCH and Lakshya,yet maintained the sincerity and joy of telling a story. Don 2 ladies and gentlemen, is just the opposite.
Is it fair to expect Farhan not to experiment or go blazing commercial Hindi masala with this subject? Absolutely not and complements to him for taking it further, but could he have done this with more love for the character Don, and packed it with the honesty of Lakshya or the freshness of DCH, a resounding yes! Who better than him to do it. Without drawing any comparisons to the original or comparing it to others, the movie miserably lacks a soul. The least a writer and director can do is be fascinated and inspired by the character and the story of Don. This one taints the cinematic image of Don. Clichéd dialog's and disconnected sequences prove more attention was given to make it look hip and sexy, and not make it real. We have all seen the MI series, the 007's, and others like them and they are all incomplete without the cars, gadgets, and the geeky thrills, but pick any good one from the lot and you will see they were all used to complement the story. Very unlike Don 2.
The movie is drenched in classic SRK drama,and you are better off watching a Karan Johar movie than this, at least you will not be surprised by anything. For instance, the movie kicks of by a bunch of big shots conspiring to kill don, and you are a genius if you were able to figure why by the end, or even why it started the way it did, but then I'm talking logic here. How about the poor dialog's and not so funny humor portrayed by SRK? Jabbar the villain is shown more as a personal assistant and, reflects a character that was either not developed or incompletely written.Priyanka Chopra puts in a decent performance to a minimal role and Om Puri could have easily taken a pass on this. Boman Irani does justice to his character but again, his character's evolution as well as introduction does not hit the mark. And are we not in 2011? Why do we have yet again, a new guy in a shy role, trying to impress the heroine who is not interested, no reason why this could not have been all edited. Then there is the elephant in the room for which people showed up to make this another mega hit, SRK.
SRK sticks to his script and does what he has done well since his early days. Whats the problem then? Our movies, and the stories have fortunately moved way forward than his baazigar style of delivery. Frankly, it is disappointing to see him do this especially at a time when he had raised the bar with Chak De and Swades. And the bigger blame here should be on Farhan Akhtar who decided to take this route. It is frustrating to see movies like this do such business, but in the end that's what they are made for, not for story lovers.
Just when you think the movie has ended and you are out of your misery, it starts all over by SRK showing the cops or I should say walking through the exact exit route he took, you've got to be kidding at this point. The drag is merciless packed with melodrama with SRK using all his facial expressions to not impress. And if you thought finally it has ended and there is no room for more, it gives you a glimpse in the last scene that Don 3 might be on its way.
An utter disappointment from Farhan Akhtar, and a winner again for SRK audience. Beware this is not a Farhan Akhtar movie.
