Ready, steady, no-go!

Directors: Abbas-Mustan

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez , Ameesha Patel, Aditya Pancholi

There are often good reasons why retreads do not reach the same level as the original. In 2008, Race gave us bad guys and very bad girls who used bronzers and booze as lethal weapons, and Abbas Mustan managed to make of that mix a slick thriller. Five years later, we have a sequel, and it’s all so been-there-seen that-so-what, that Race 2 just passes in front of our eyes without registering.

And here’s why. All good sequels have enough of the original to give us a sense of continuity but create enough difference to be able to stand on their own. The director duo has kept only two of the original cast — Saif as ruthless, rich businessman Ranveer, and Anil Kapoor, the fruit-eating lug as RD. John Abraham is new bad guy Armaan, and Jacqui and Deepika are the two fresh lovelies, going by the oh-such-swish-names as Omisha and Aleena. Omisha and Aleena? Oh well. It doesn’t really matter what they are called. It is how they look. Given enough expanse of toned inches and smooth skin and designer sheaths, all women look the same. And that is the trouble with this film.

Race 2 looks exactly like Race. Which may have been intentional because plush locations and pretty playthings and buff men are very much Abbas-Mustan trademarks. But all it does is cause a dismally same-same feeling. So

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