At 2 hours and 22 minutes, ‘Singham Returns’ feels long and occasionally plodding. There are some nice scenes that inspire police pride, but the predictable story tires you out eventually.

The sequel to ‘Singham’ is chock-full of the usual car-on-jeep action. Explosions go off at regular intervals. Shoot-outs—one really well-shot– occur frequently.

The action is daft-but-enjoyable in the beginning but soon gets repetitive, no thanks to the audience forced to plug up ears with their fingers.

The weakest link is the tedious romantic angle between Ajay and Kareena Kapoor, who plays his gluttonous girlfriend. Kareena’s beauty is startling, but here she’s not even attempting to act. Despite these soft spots, Ajay keeps the film moving. I was cheering for Singham, but ultimately his solutions are downright dangerous. I don’t want to tell you what happens, but it made me very uneasy.

The audience mostly wants action as well as comedy in a Rohit Shetty film. Sadly, Singham did not return with a bang.

It’s one big déjà vu.

A few goofy dialogues coming at an unprecedented time from the least expected people may take you through till end – if you hadn’t already given up at the point where the baba pours himself a drink before choking a devotee to death, that is.

Singham Returns has a fair sprinkling of angry wisecracks that might draw spontaneous whistles and loud claps from those that love violent fights to the finish.

One can only hope that this is indeed the end, and another sequel isn’t lurking in the future.

Singham Returns doesn’t match up to Singham and that is the failure of this franchise venture. It is definitely a very watchable film with Ajay putting in his best foot forward in a role that brings out his caliber to the fullest but for those who are expecting a Rohit Shetty fun watch, this film is neither immensely entertaining or superbly enjoyable. The action doesn’t offer anything new and the drama is too superficial for my taste. It is just about average and that too only for its lead man whose swagger rules the show in this one.

Stronger writing could still have redeemed the plot but Singham Returns moves from a laboured first half to a lifeless second. Sporadic shots at drama are drowned by the film’s preachy tone. No attempt is made to understand just what the black money problem is all about. Rohit Shetty better stick to making nonsensical films. They sure make more sense than his sensible ones.

Singham Returns has enough one liners and ample maar-dhaad, choreographed stunningly for all those who loved Singham. If you are looking for anything more you will be disappointed.

On the whole Singham Returns has its moment and those who know what to expect from it won’t be disappointed.

You can blow up a million sumos, picturise ever fighting scene with real lions and scream “Now I’ve lost it” in every language you can muster. At the end of Independence Day, its Bajirao Singham action that will do the Koli dance to the box office tune. Not the critics.

Singham Returns is an average film backed by good performances and action. Spending money on this Rohit Shetty’s film will not give you heartburns. But do keep your expectations in check. Those who loved Singham are likely to enjoy his return on the big screen.

Films that are so meticulously designed to become a hit, more often than not, hit your head really hard. This picture is not an exception in that sense.

You know the actual content will be the filler between stunts involving somersaults and rubbing salt on open wounds, or as in this case, literally shooting at the villains’ bums. So you sit back, push some cotton wool into your ears and ideally wear a helmet to protect the precious space between the ears, because so many guns firing at the same time can drill a serious hole in your head. If that suits you fine, go ahead then, drill a hole in your wallet as well.

While Singham Returns is a must watch for every Rohit Shetty fan as the director dishes out a typical masala film, the ones who look for emotional connection with films may stay away from this Independence Day release. Watch it if you have nothing else to do this weekend.

It is a Rohit Shetty film, that is a little less like a Rohit Shetty film, because it is actually trying to make sense while trying to keep what one expects from a Rohit Shetty film alive. Fortunately, more of the earlier than latter.

I yearn to see Rohit Shetty step out of his booby-trapped comfort zone and attempt something different, because his brand of entertainment leaves no scope for evolution. With ‘Singham Returns’, the wait continues.