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Mediocre Copy

APK | July 20, 2007

Rating: **.5 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

Cast: Govinda, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta, Dilip Tahil, Amey Pandya, Atul Parchure, Rajat Bedi, Suresh Menon, Vindu Dara Singh, Razzak Khan, Deepshikha, Aarti Chhabria, Tiku Talsania, Ali Asgar, Puneet Issar, Rajpal Yadav and Others.
Choreography: Bosco-Caesar.
Cinematography: Johny Lal.
Costume: Alvira Khan Agnihotri.
Dialogues & Screenplay: Sanjay Chhel.
Lyricists: Sanjay Chhel, Shabbir Ahmed & Jalees Sherwani.
Music: Sajid-Wajid.
Direction: David Dhawan.
Producer: Sohail Khan.
Banner: K Sera Sera, Eros International, Sohail Khan Productions.
Release Date: 20th July, 2007.

Partner, directed by David Dhawan and starring his old favorites Govinda and Salman Khan is based on the Hollywood flick Hitch. The concept of a 'Love Guru', the characters and certain scenes has been taken. Some changes have been made to suit the Indian audiences along with 2-3 dance numbers and silly comic writing that never really takes off.

Govinda and Katrina Kai

Plot Prem (Khan, who else?) is a 'Love Guru' and devises tactics for men who need help to win the women they are in love with. Bhaskar is a 'Loser' working for and in love with rich and famous Priya (Katrina Kaif) and approaches Prem. After much persuasion Prem agrees. Naina (Lara Dutta) is a reporter and a single mother who Prem falls in love with. It's all about how Bhaskar wins Priya over, in spite of many misunderstandings and difficulties.

Story, Screenplay and Direction The story is entirely lifted from Will Smith starrer, Hitch (No Acknowledgements). Many of the scenes like the one when Govinda wants to kiss Katrina, the walkie-talkie episode and the villain's character, Neel, are taken frame to frame from the original. Salman's love story has had some changes made to it.

'Chotta Don' (Rajpal Yadav) makes fun of Shah Rukh Khan, while the Andaz Apna Apna/Rang De Basanti parody targets Aamir Khan. The kid's character is not included in the original, and the first 20 minutes is also different. The best part of Hitch is the chemistry between the two couples, Will Smith-Eva Mendes and Kevin James-Amber Valletta. That element is completely absent in Partner, with Salman and Lara's story revolving mostly around the kid and rounding off with some music and Govinda and Katrina's chemistry icy cold.

The movie starts off with some animation, and ends with a little humor owing to Govinda's timing. They are the only parts worth watching in the movie.

Dialogue Of The Day: Govinda says 'Itni kushi...mujhe aaj tak nahi hui' and blows his nose. Rest of the comedy falls flat.

Performances Salman Khan looks like he could be somewhere else, and seems disinterested. Katrina Kaif looks gorgeous, has zero acting skills. Lara Dutta is okay, but has little to do. Govinda is the star of the show, and his old flair for comedy is returning slowly (missing in Bhagam Bhag). The kid is okay, while Rajpal Yadav is cast in one of the worst roles of his career.

Song and Dance The title song, 'Partner' is inspired from the Hitch soundtrack sung by Will Smith. Three of the songs are peppy and dance numbers that will stay on to be remixed for the Dandia season.

Last Word A mediocre copy. Those who've seen Hitch will find the plot uninteresting. But for some entertainment sans logic, and perhaps for Govinda, this movie would not have been interesting at all. Anyways, there are no good Hindi movies around (if you've already watched Shootout At Lokhandwala). For someone who has not seen Hitch, it can be a time-pass watch.