Rating: 
January 25, 2013
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Amisha Patel, Jacqueline Fernandes
Director: Abbas-Mustan
Race 2 is the cinematic equivalent of a trashy novel. It never holds together as a sensible piece of work, but as an insensible piece of work, it’s pretty enjoyable. Director-duo Abbas Mustan create a cocktail of glamorous stars, exotic foreign locations, slick action scenes, and an outrageous plot. At nearly two-and-a-half hours, the film is too long by at least 20 minutes, but I’ll give this to Race 2: it’s seldom boring.
Never deviating too far from the blueprint of the 2008 film of which this is a sequel, Race 2 pits two suave conmen against each other in a tale of friendship, double-crossings, and revenge. Saif Ali Khan returns as Ranvir Singh, a loaded tycoon with an agenda. John Abraham, meanwhile, is Armaan Malik, a criminal kingpin forever exploiting opportunities to expand his empire.
Set in Turkey, our heroes are surrounded by fast cars and sexy women, and they get rich by swindling casinos, cheating at high-value card games, and stealing prized artifacts from museums. Anil Kapoor is back as RD, former cop and ravenous fruit-eater, and Amisha Patel has replaced Sameera Reddy as his new bimbo assistant, Cherry, whose very name lends itself to a slew of double meaning jokes.
The earlier film, Race, wasn’t a particularly smart thriller, but packed with so many unexpected twists it kept you on your toes. The big reveals in Race 2, however, can be guessed from a mile away, robbing the film of any unpredictability whatsoever.
What it’s lacking in originality, the film tries to make up for in sheer ambition. Abbas-Mustan don’t skimp on any effort to deliver a fast-paced, stylish entertainer, even if much of it turns out to be a hoot. From crazy gizmos that would make James Bond’s trusted ally Q turn a shade of green, to the sheer gratuitous skin show on display, Race 2 is a guilty pleasure all the way. Leading ladies Deepika Padukone and Jacqueline Fernandes sportingly show up to show off cleavage and leg, and John Abraham and Saif Ali Khan frequently strip down to their waists in an unapologetic buffet of beefcake.
And yet, compared to so many lazy blockbusters recently, Race 2 is skillfully made and sincerely performed. It’s not a film you’ll remember years from now, but you won’t be moaning and groaning through it either.
I’m going with two-and-a-half out of five for Abbas-Mustan’s Race 2. The film has no intellectual pretensions; its only ambition is to offer a good time. In that, it mostly succeeds.
Tags: Abbas-Mustan Amisha Patel Anil Kapoor Deepika Padukone Jacqueline Fernandez John Abraham Race 2 Rajeev Masand Reviews Saif Ali Khan
so he liked it.
O-M-G!
‘2.5/5’ by Both Masand and Taran Adarsh!!!!!
What is Bollywood Coming to?
😛 😛
masand is consistent in his space. he liked the film but obviously wont give it 3/5.taran and komal have misjudged the film completely. they will have to eat humble pie.
The film is doing some amazing collections all over india despite negative review from some so called critics and some stupid bollywood sites. The collections are a big slap on those critics and sites who are trying to spread negative vibes about the movie. They even mentioned yesterday on their sites that the movie will not see any significant rise in collections on Saturday. Seems they did not recv any big booty from abbas muston duo. And yes all the khans and kumars fans are jealous of the movie collections and are not coming in open in appreciation of the movie…
Agreed movie is not like the prequel. But still it is watchable due to director’s presentation of the movie and saif’s good acting plus the exotic locales and some good action.