Don 2 is nicely shot, and there are moments where Shah Rukh Khan is riveting. But that’s not enough to hold your interest for well over two hours…even the actor’s most loyal fans will find themselves yawning. Although packed with fast cars and bikes, this is one slow ride.

‘Don 2’ needed an energized, crackling plot. What it has, in almost too much abundance, is SRK dripping dimpled coolth. But cool can only take you so far.

The writers here have sub-plots. They continue to stretch and add thought to thought. The picture promises to never end. It gets hard to carry on with inane inventiveness, when you just couldn’t care less.

Khan’s charming presence aside, Don 2 is packed with uninspired performances by a large supporting cast. First in the line-up is Chopra as Roma, an Interpol officer located in Kuala Lumpur. She is attractive looking, with her big pouting lips, but most of the time Chopra acts like a school girl putting her hands on her forehead in exasperation saying “Damn it,” or a character out of an Enid Blyton book, collecting clues to solve the Mystery of the Missing Don!

The King is yet to return. Meanwhile since Hrithik’s cameo is the highpoint of the film and the plot does have a few interesting twists.

Don 2 ends with the promise of Don 3 (that’s what the number-plate of Don’s bike reads) and the trademark dialogue ‘Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, namumkim hai’ (It’s not just difficult to catch don, it’s impossible). But we would surely want to ‘catch’ up with a more worthy sequel to this. It’s not impossible Farhan. Is it?

Watch Don 2 for some kick-ass action. And Shah Rukh Khan.

On the whole, Don 2 may not give the discerning audience a great high but it will be loved by those who like style, intrigue, suspense and attitude. It will score at the box-office and yield good profits to Reliance Entertainment (worldwide distributors). The producers, of course, have already made a huge profit by selling the worldwide rights and also by getting heavy subsidy from the German government. Business in big cities and multiplexes will be far better than in smaller towns and single-screen cinemas. The film will work wonders in the Overseas circuit.

On the whole, DON 2 rides on star power and brand value. The film has a bland first hour, but the second half takes the film to another level. There’s no denying that a cohesive script would’ve made a world of a difference to the film, but the tremendous hype, star power and the lucrative period [Christmas and New Year celebrations] will make its investors reap a harvest.

The beginning itself is a bummer. Everyone wants Don dead and the Malaysian cartel where he is king has been given a deal by gang lords in Europe to finish off Don so that they have a network there.

All in all Don 2 is a smashing finale to an already interesting line up of films released this year. It’s a slickly edited, edge of the seat, cool, sassy and well made product with a gripping plot to boot. Here’s hoping they decide to make a third installment as there’s definitely potential to explore more of Don’s wicked antics, watch him outwit the good guys again and recite his by now (in)famous line ‘Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi…’

Watch the film for some awesome action sequences. And watch it for the King. He is truly back.