A Gentleman Movie Review: Strong action loses its way amid ill-conceived plot

Directed By: Raj & DK
Produced By: Fox Star Studios
Cast: Jacqueline Fernandez, Sidharth Malhotra, Suniel Shetty
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Bollywood Bubble Rating: 2/5

‘Jab Jab jiske lagne hote hai, tab tab uske lagte hai’, says the very enlightening and the beginning monologue of ‘A Gentleman’.

Aur, aaj meri lag gayi!

I quite think this film is a psychological thriller as well. Because, my psychology is wondering why was it titled ‘A Gentleman’ when no one in the film is a gentleman!

Sidharth Malhotra shifts between two characters; Gaurav and Rishi. Gaurav, a sales manager with a leading organisation and established with a pretty house and a mini van in the US, wants to get married and settle down. He has got a dark past that he hasn’t revealed to anyone. Rishi, on the other hand, is fearless and is a pro at taking risks. He, however, doesn’t know that he is being misused for all wrong purposes. Soon, the ethical soul in him starts striking and he wants to get out of the substandard circle he is trapped in.

Don’t be jealous of Gaurav’s lavish living, because he is friendzoned! Kavya (Jacqueline Fernandez) has him weak on his knees, but she wouldn’t admit him to be anything more than a friend. Reason being, Gaurav is too nice (Read: He cooks, even makes gol chapatis, shops for household, cleans, drives slowly)!

The story shuffles between USA and India. While a piece of Gaurav’s past life suddenly starts haunting him again, we also discover how Rishi had once stepped into the dark zone. This is the time when you also come to know whether Rishi and Gaurav are connected at all; and if yes, then why.

The saturated soul in me, right now, fails to derive why this film lasted for 2 hours and 30 minutes, because the thrill begins and gets over, all within 15 minutes! Also, Sidharth Malhotra has indeed worked on himself and it shows. He is seamless with his action sequences. In fact, he is quite an exploration that way. Let us not take away his efforts from him. In one specific sequence, wherein he pretends to be a gay and tries to lure a man, he had us believing in his acting prowess. But overall… Sorry guys! *Concentrates on her McVeggie*

Jacqueline Fernandez is this beautiful woman who keeps looking for some thrill in her life and often ends up with the police for rash driving. She looks every bit of pretty and ups the glam quotient. BUT WHY DOESN’T SHE ACT? Also, what a waste of someone as senior and versatile as Suniel ShettyI! Darshan Kumar, who is a seasoned thespian actor, is as weak as he could get.

Director duo Raj & DK wanted to make this one an out-and-out commercial action thriller. Instead, it came out as a half-baked hide-n-seek. The story hides, and I seek it! The direction worked in bits and parts, and flunked tremendously, after interval. As I said, the suspense lasts for as little as 15 minutes. The screenplay has numerous drops; it NEVER spices up enough.

I’d rather credit side actors for a decent job. Amit Mistry (caution: hell lot of Gujju jokes) and Hussain Dalal deserve a special mention here. A lot of potential misery has been saved by the film’s efficient editing. For films that juggle between two different backdrops, there are much chances of noticeable continuity breaks and awkward jerks. Not much of that happens in ‘A Gentleman’. Also, thankfully, this one doesn’t go overboard with songs. The music isn’t something profound that would stay with you. But they are situational and are in sync with the situations. Also, look out for some decent comic timings in the first half.

The shift of characters is the only commendable thing the directors have done. Sidharth smoothly slips in two different shoes. If only he was more expressive to slay both of them!

‘A Gentleman’ is averagely shot, but the locales of USA make up for it.

Go for this one, if you’re looking for a one-time watch. Blaming us later won’t be allowed!

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