Predictable, but Salman’s fans won’t complain

He flexes his biceps, repeats mad dance moves, spouts whistle-deserving dialogues and yes, his shirt divorces his body once again. Predictable? Maybe, but who's complaining? Not bhaijan's fans for sure.

Predictable, but Salman's fans won't complain

Bodyguard
U/A; Romance, action
Director: Siddique
Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Panscholi and Chetan Hansraj
Rating: **1/2

He flexes his biceps, repeats mad dance moves, spouts whistle-deserving dialogues and yes, his shirt divorces his body once again. Predictable?u00a0 Maybe, but who's complaining? Not bhaijan's fans for sure.

Salman Khan as bodyguard Lovely Singh is invincible. He is appointed to protect Divya (Kareena), who is unaware of a threat to her life. In the process, Divya falls in love with Lovely and starts flirting with him over the phone masquerading as someone else. Lovely is unaware of Divya's love for him. So while this romance plays itself out, a family of villains -- Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Panscholi and Chetan Hansraju00a0-- do their best to harm Divya and get even with Lovely.

Keeping up with the tradition of his earlier films like Wanted, Dabangg and Ready, Lovely is capable of tackling 40 goons at a time. He flings full-bodied men like frisbees, uproots trees when he is in want of a weapon with several moves defying gravity. Add to that, he is unflinchingly loyal to his 'duty'. Yes, Bollywood's incredible hulku00a0 (excuse us Rajni sir) is at it again.

The story defies logic, and is confused between wanting to be a romantic flick and action-oriented drama. The comedy track involving an overweight character Tsunami is contrived. But what the heck? Salman provides the thrills as he flies between speeding trains, crashes solo into a den full of villains (making mincemeat of them in no time), and generally ensuring paisa vasool entertainment, the kind that you expected even before entering the theatre.

Kareena Kapoor is bright as ever and actually manages to bring her caricature of a role alive. She looks quite gorgeous too. Sadly, Aditya Panscholi and Mahesh Manjrekar are relegated to being a little more than petty extras. While the first half keeps the excitement alive, the second half meanders and the climax is unbelievably silly. I think one portion of the movie is a hotchpotchu00a0-- a mix of the Karan Johar-Aditya Chopra genre. Watch it and you will know what I mean.

The film is obviously not expected to be intellectually stimulating. But to give it due credit, it provides loads of entertainment, the kind you may have come to expect of a Salman Khan film.