Players India Today Movie Review by Kaveree Bamzai

“After Don 2, which was Abbas Mustan in Berlin, we have Abbas Mustan in Russia and New Zealand. As in Don 2, everyone moves around dressed in slick leather, pulling off heists, driving fast cars and looking mysterious. Only this time, it is a genuine copy of a Hollywood film. Belly dances, weeping papas and an over the top villain. It is all here in the desi job. Including corny dialogues and leering Russian generals.

Just in case a Russian stripping down to Raj Kapoor’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani is not enough, we have Johnny Lever married to a New Zealander who offers chai with pakoras.

The casting is somewhat refreshing. Sonam Kapoor makes a huge contribution changing her eye makeup with every new mood. Bipasha Basu fills out a bikini and a dress that has even less than that rather well. Omi Vaidya is funny as usual and Abhishek Bachchan plays off smartly against Neil Nitin Mukesh.”

“Bollywood has realized it can camouflage its lack of stories with lots of thrills, chases, heists making the location exotic and the villains international even if it has to finally buy the remake rights legally. As one character’s motto in the movie goes – videshi gadiyan, desi bomb – of the inanimate and animate kind. Even better if they wear slinky gowns and shake their booty. It allows you to laugh and lust in equal measure.

What is Bobby Deol doing in the movie? No time for such existential questions. I was too distracted by Sonam Kapoor’s wandering eye makeup and changeable hair.”

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