Tiger 3 movie review: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif film sparks to life only intermittently

This time around, extenuating circumstances force Tiger and Zoya into adopting a questionable stance around a briefcase which contains secret codes. Just who are they working for? Is Zoya really a double agent? Has Tiger turned? After Kabir Sharma and Ali Abbas Zafar, it is Maneesh Sharma at the helm of this third Tiger iteration, and when it begins, with a fast-paced action sequence involving a grievously hurt RAW agent and Tiger-to-the-rescue motorcycle chase, you sit back, fully prepared to enjoy the ride.

And I have to say that the first half keeps up the pace, hopping from one location to another, switching from one slam-bang-thud sequence to another. Tiger and Zoya are now parents, and we see them worry about a young son who has fallen sick: the former is still a maker of great ‘kaali’ dal (though we only hear the pressure cooker whistle in this one, never see the actual product), the latter hasn’t forgotten how to deliver a great roundhouse kick; they really do make a matching pair. The comic book elements that made the first two editions of the film such fun– the first more than the second—are intact, and we are given the usual global exotic places itinerary for our spies to dip their toes into. When she’s not zipping about on a motorcycle, or kicking the bad guys where it hurts, Zoya gets to duel with a svelte martial artist (Lee) in a hammam, both clad in sheer towels, toplined by a gasp-will-she-won’t-she-drop-the-it moment. Ooh.

Post interval, though, things start to dip. We don’t really expect logic from this kind of film but even so, the way the plot ties itself into knots trying to get Tiger to face down his enemies, with Simran trying hard to pull off being the kind of Pakistani premier who is all for democracy, and Hashmi striding about, looking dishy in that grey-flecked beard but not being able to summon any of the menace required to take him seriously,

The focus on how Big Brother India will teach its recalcitrant younger brother Pakistan the virtues of democracy may actually be as much fantasy as the Tiger sagas are meant to be, and something only Bollywood peaceniks can dream up, but it can become too much of a muchness. After yet another skirmish in which Tiger and Rehman break off, to circle back for another bout, I was done.

Salman is looking his age, but the good thing is that he isn’t hiding it. And of course, the best part of the film is when Pathaan aka SRK comes flying into the horizon with his hair still in that sexy man-bun (whatever happened to the haircut he had promised himself at the end of ‘Pathaan’?) and shooting smart one-liners. The way these two launch themselves into the air, hanging at the end of wildly swinging cables, remind you of the ‘RRR’ duo and their doings. A certain Rajamouli should be very pleased: in this instance imitation is certainly the best form of flattery.

But after that super-starry flourish where you can’t help but crack up at the bro-vibes the two trade, the story-telling settles into distinctly un-rousing patterns in the second-half, only intermittently sparking to life. Remember that thing about weighty questions? Why (spoiler alert) does this film leave Salman with his shirt on? That’s one thing guaranteed to bring the house down. Yes, even now, after all these years. Don’t tell me the plot couldn’t find one appropriate climatic moment for such a momentous, an anticipated Bhai moment. Or are they saving it up for the fourth Tiger outing?

Tiger 3 movie cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, Simran, Ranvir Shorey, Revathi, Kumud Mishra, Riddhi Dogra, Vishal Jethwa, Chandrachur Rai, Michelle Lee, Anant Vidhat Sharma, Gavie Chahal, Danish Husain
Tiger 3 movie director: Maneesh Sharma
Tiger 3 movie rating: Two and a half stars