Agent Vinod Movie Review

Critic's Rating: 3/5
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor
Direction: Sriram Raghavan
Genre: Thriller
Duration: 2 hours 38 minutes
Avg Readers Rating: 2/5

Story: Mission: Secret Agent to trace a lethal nuclear bomb that can trigger World War III.
Location: 9 exotic countries.
Mission Man: Agent Vinod.

Movie Review: He's not blond, but desi Bond meets Bourne for a spy masala mix - apna Agent Vinod. With all the makings of a suave 007, always shaken, never stirred. With guns, gadgets, girls and guts. Throw in style and sex-appeal, and we almost have it all. AV, in his slim-fit suits, bow-ties and tuxedoes, is your metrosexual man on a mission. Cut to the chase, the story explodes in Afghanistan and the smoke trail leads to places like Russia, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Latvija; with our agent ( Saif Ali Khan), high on his loaded ammunition of testosterone and wit - on the job. He's tracing a nuclear suitcase bomb (talk about retro), which could possibly trigger a Nuclear War. His only clue, a number - 242. And a siren; sexing up the mission. Read: ISI agent, Iram ( Kareena Kapoor).

Saif, like 007, is never averse to spouting a clever line even while drugged by the baddies - 'My name is Anthony Gonsalves' the most creative among them. Stripping his shirt to show off a chiseled six-pack, but decently desi enough to keep the pants on, and sensitively shed a tear. At his stylish best, Saif is the spy-to-die-for.

And while a random bronzed bikini babe makes a mandatory appearance, she's not missed as Kareena is sexier by far; and effortlessly does the sometimes mysterious, sometimes vulnerable act.
Ram Kapoor rolls his 'R's (for a Russian accent) as smoothly as his character trades arms, drugs and flesh. Prem Chopra weeps heartily for a dying camel but shows a mean-streak with good ol' 70's villainy. Adil Hussain, cut 'n' d(r)ied, plays the devious Colonel. Gulshan Grover pops up, only for a mujra, it seems.

Director Sriram Raghavan, who's made fine mind-twisters (Ek Haseena Thi, Johnny Gaddaar), attempts a spy-thriller this time. His obsession for retro reflects here again, whether it's casting Prem Chopra and Gulshan Grover, references to classics, or infusing soundtracks from the bygone era. Aaah! Nostalgia! 'Agent Vinod' is slick and visually stylized, but loses steam at times. The movie is a tad long and often creatively compromised - for style over substance. With well-designed stunts and car chases, there are very few high points or shock value. One being the background score (Daniel B George) that changes beautifully with the locations.
Otherwise, Agent Vinod is cool. But not steamy enough to win a license to thrill.