Movie Review: Ek Tha Tiger

When Salman Khan, an actor who believes in entertaining, larger than life cinema, and Kabir Khan, both known for being poles apart when it comes to approaching films, come under the Yash Raj banner, what do you think should be the recipe for success?

Let's check out the ingredients, shall we?

1) Love - Obviously, being an Yah Raj film, the movie is not complete without an romantic angle; the better if one is from India and the other is from, where else, Pakistan.

2) Comedy - Considering the pairing of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, the trailers had already teased the audience with some jokes referencing the Khan's marital status.

3) Action - Of course, yes! This is an action film right?

4) Picturesque foreign locales - You got it - Dublin, Istanbul, Havana and Bangkok (not to forget our own national capital).

5) Patriotism - yes, and by the bucketloads.

6) Ear-pleasing songs - Sadly, no!

So how does the recipe look? Does it look like a success formula? Well it depends from which angle you are looking at. If you were revolted by the actor's previous films like Ready and Bodyguard, ETT is comparatively a much better and smarter affair. Unlike Agent Vinod, which also made its way to theatres this year.

But what exactly is the story? Nothing much. Though for a change the Khan movie has a plot, it is unfortunately simplistic and wafer-thin. Back home from a thrilling mission in Iraq, RAW agent Tiger (Salman Khan) is sent off on a new assignment to Dublin to trail an Indian scientist Prof. Kidwai (Roshan Seth) who is suspected of sharing defence secrets with the Pakistan's intelligence agency. Unsuccessful in his attempts to meet the professor, he befriends his caretaker Zoya (Katrina Kaif), only to fall in love and fight for it despite all odds.

While Kabir Khan's treatment of Indo-Pak relations is amateurish and leaves a lot to be desired (it is ample clear the makers were content just scratching the theme on its surface), props to him for delivering a visually-sumptuous and engaging fare that makes for satisfying pop-corn entertainment. Just remember to keep your expectations in check.