'Dhoom': The action goes vroom

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Film</span>: <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dhoom</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Director:</span> Sanjay Gadhvi <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Cast:</span> Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, John Abraham <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Rating:</span> **1/2<br /></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="61.8%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" white=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/829881.cms" alt="/photo/829881.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br />After giving us a stream of frothy romances, Yash Raj Films goes off the beaten track with a thriller.And this testosterone-packed drama comes with the hallmark of all of Yash Raj stable''s bubbly romances – slick and stylised packaging which makes up for a not-too-brilliant story line. <br /><br />Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi (<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai</span>, 2002), <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dhoom</span> has a cop (Bachchan) chasing a gang of daring robbers who make away with the loot on their imported bikes, giving Mumbai''s crime branch uneasy nights. <br /><br />Between half-a-dozen item numbers set to some racy music, the ACP hires the services of a mechanic (Uday Chopra) who can match the racing skills of the robbers by flying his bike over crowds and trains. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"></div> <div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="61.8%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" white=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/829883.cms" alt="/photo/829883.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br />John Abraham plays the devil (Kabir) with tons of attitude who leads the gang of four by planning and plotting the heists, which are actually quite a walkover, considering the gang''s USP is their ability to zoom off with the booty. <br /><br />Hot on their trail, Bachchan''s character, Jai, manages to ruffle the gang''s feathers, with Kabir daring him often. <br /><br />Post-interval, it''s Kabir versus Jai and his sidekick Ali, the tapori mechanic. For once, Chopra''s casting is bang on. His not only looks the tapori part, but also endears himself, a bit like Aamir Khan''s Munna did in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Rangeela</span>. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="61.8%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" white=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/829892.cms" alt="/photo/829892.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br />The camaraderie Bachchan''s Jai and the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">tapori</span> share is probably meant to take you back to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sholay</span>''s Jai-Veeru pairing. The humour here may not be intelligent, but the duo makes it work. It''s the same with the story. <br /><br />Though the constant dares and chases keep the pulse racing, it''s not a thriller that has you on the edge of the seat. There''s hardly an intelligent move in the film. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section4"><div align="center" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="1" width="61.8%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" white=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/829898.cms" alt="/photo/829898.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br />You can second guess the second half as easily as the gang robs. What the story lacks is made up to some extent by well-executed action by Allan Amin and the film''s USP - the mean machines that fly and defy. <br /><br />The men deliver quite well, except for Abraham who could work on his dialogue delivery. <br /><br />Skip over the superficialities and you get some pretty decent time pass. <br /><br /></div> </div>