36 China Town is nothing but a medley of sound-n-buffoonery, signifying nothing. Yet, it has its `moments' and as you get out of the movie theatre you wouldn't feel cheated. Abbas-Mastan deliver another hit for if the audience reaction is to go by, then the public isn't much bothered about the lack of mystery in Casino Queen Sonia Chang's murder. The nach baliye pair of Shahid-Kareena, stylish cop Akshaey Khanna and super oomph Upen Patel keep things rolling for good.
The screenplay is seriously shoddy as there's no pattern in the story graph and the torrid wastage of a brilliant comic actor like Paresh Rawal is sacrilege. So, if you are wandering as to what the story is all about, then lemme replay a few stray tid bits. Shahid is a wannabe actor who wants big money to pay to a producer so that he doesn't sign any actor other than him. Kareena wants money as well for no rhyme or reason. They decide to earn a lottery of twenty five lakh rupees by returning a two year old kid (Lost in Goa, found in Mumbai) of a rich loner Isha Koppikar. This wealthy loser owns the world of sin, Chinatown where people came as kings and were thrown out as paupers.
Paresh Rawal, a former gambling addict with his hottie wife Payal Rohatgi bumps into in an incorrigible gambler Johny Lever at Chinatown. Together they lose everything. In the meanwhile, the chemistry-less love story of the Mumbai-to-Goa couple intersperses through some foot tapping Himesh Reshamiya chartbusters and the Chinatown ladies drool over Playboy Patel. All of them get trapped in Isha's murder and it's left to suave-cop Khanna to `solve' the tepid puzzle. But not before, the audience is treated to ample Rohatgi cleavage and sorry jokes from Rawal.
Apart from Paresh Rawal, everyone has done a decent job in the acting department. Johny Lever sparkles after a long time. Just when the world thought that Rajpal Yadav and Boman Irani had written Lever's obituary, he makes a strong comeback. Shahid has never looked so good. Everyone says that he must stop imitating Shahrukh Khan. I think, it's being unfair on him. Amitabh Bachchan imitates Dilip Kumar and Shahrukh apes the thespian too. The good news for Shahid fans is that he is a tempestuous dancer and has a natural flair for controlled acting. He is not a super star in making. He already is one. Kareena looks like a coveted dream. She is svelte, sensitive and spot on. As for Akshaey, then he is one of the most underrated actors in Bollywood and is also emerging as a consistently dependable star at the box office. Debutante Upen Patel shines in a small role. He must thank his stars that his voice was dubbed by a fab substitute. For his stellar body language would surely have been spoilt rotten by his squeamish real-life voice. He must desist from lending his own voice in future too if he wishes to reap the benefits of a good beginning.
The camera work is a treat although editing could have been have done with more detached hands for 36 China Town can be cut by at least ten minutes as it drags at places. Reshamiya's music is a big plus for this flick, especially the remix of Meri Aashiqui and 24/7 I think of you. As for directors Abbas Mastan, well, guys, you've got it in you to give a much better thriller than this. You must be grateful to your luck that 36 China Town will work as it's a neat packaged product as a whole. But, the audience surely deserves something extra-thrilling from the makers of Baazigar and Humraaz.
36 China Town: A tepid thriller that works
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