Zeneews Bureau- **
The duo who share a symbiotic relationship when it comes to name, fame and reckoning in the industry is back. While Sriram Raghavan helped Saif Ali Khan develop a sauve macho character in ‘Ek Hasina Thi’, the actor relied on Sri’s potential to bring out the best in him. Result – Bollywood honours, After 8 years Saif and Raghavan joined hands to bring forth, perhaps India’s answer to Hollywood slick sly thrillers – ‘Agent Vinod’. Want to know how it fared? Just read on, The plot seems interesting with Agent Vinod (Saif Ali Khan), an Indian intelligence RAW agent discovering the shocking plan of a terrorist group to kill millions with a nuclear suitcase bomb. Drawing a connection between a series of events that happen across the world, AV sets out on a mission traversing some 9 to 10 exotic countries of the world. In the midst of his mission, Agent Vinod happens to meet undercover Pakistani ISI Agent Ruby (Kareena Kapoor), who pretends to be a doctor. Agent Vinod and Ruby have a common goal, but whether they will be able to crack the mystery and come to the rescue of people forms the rest of the story. ‘Agent Vinod’ sets out to revolutionise filmmaking in India. Sriram Raghavan’s ode to the spy genre, his continued love affair with ‘70’s Hindi cinema- ‘Agent Vinod’ is a genuine attempt at entertaining in a sensible manner. But it somehow falls short of being declared as a brilliant piece of work.
The first 30 minutes of the film are intriguing and simultaneously puzzling. It is bifurcated into sub-plots which make it somewhat confusing. Kareena’s character seems to have been inserted in the drama only to ensure that the there is the stereotypical romance in the narrative. Saif Ali Khan described ‘Agent Vinod’ as Bond-meets-Bourne-meets-TinTin, but the makers seems to have neglected the finer nuances and perhaps that is the reason why the film fails to impress. Dialogues are witty and breathe life into the film. The editing is slick and perfect to make the film seem crisp.
Watch ‘Agent Vinod’ for its stylish presentation, it hasn’t got anything else to offer.
He's not blond, but desi Bond meets Bourne for a spy masala mix - apna Agent Vinod. With all the makings of a suave 007, always shaken, never stirred. With guns, gadgets, girls and guts. Throw in style and sex-appeal, and we almost have it all. AV, in his slim-fit suits, bow-ties and tuxedoes, is your metrosexual man on a mission. Cut to the chase, the story explodes in Afghanistan and the smoke trail leads to places like Russia, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Latvija; with our agent ( Saif Ali Khan), high on his loaded ammunition of testosterone and wit - on the job. He's tracing a nuclear suitcase bomb (talk about retro), which could possibly trigger a Nuclear War. His only clue, a number - 242. And a siren; sexing up the mission. Read: ISI agent, Iram ( Kareena Kapoor). Saif, like 007, is never averse to spouting a clever line even while drugged by the baddies - 'My name is Anthony Gonsalves' the most creative among them. Stripping his shirt to show off a chiseled six-pack, but decently desi enough to keep the pants on, and sensitively shed a tear. At his stylish best, Saif is the spy-to-die-for.
And while a random bronzed bikini babe makes a mandatory appearance, she's not missed as Kareena is sexier by far; and effortlessly does the sometimes mysterious, sometimes vulnerable act.
Ram Kapoor rolls his 'R's (for a Russian accent) as smoothly as his character trades arms, drugs and flesh. Prem Chopra weeps heartily for a dying camel but shows a mean-streak with good ol' 70's villainy. Adil Hussain, cut 'n' d(r)ied, plays the devious Colonel. Gulshan Grover pops up, only for a mujra, it seems. Director Sriram Raghavan, who's made fine mind-twisters (Ek Haseena Thi, Johnny Gaddaar), attempts a spy-thriller this time. His obsession for retro reflects here again, whether it's casting Prem Chopra and Gulshan Grover, references to classics, or infusing soundtracks from the bygone era. Aaah! Nostalgia! 'Agent Vinod' is slick and visually stylized, but loses steam at times. The movie is a tad long and often creatively compromised - for style over substance. With well-designed stunts and car chases, there are very few high points or shock value. One being the background score (Daniel B George) that changes beautifully with the locations.
Bollywoodhungama- ***
Let's state the fact here - Agent Vinod may not have turned out to be an ultimate entertaining experience that one would have hoped for. Still, it has its moments where one does feel that if only could have gone an extra distance, it may have been memorable. Still, despite not really the kind of soundtrack that one would remember six months down the line, it is still good enough to ensure that it helps the film's narrative. Songs like 'I'll Do The Talking Tonight', 'Dil Mera Muft Ka' and 'Pungi', though not extraordinary, keep up the pace while the theme track is an absolute killer. As for the one that may stay on long, there is 'Raabta' that one can play on a repeat mode and feel content.
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