Movie review by Anupama Chopra: Dhoom 3 is gorgeous with cheerful lack of logic

Dhoom:3

Direction:

Vijay Krishna Acharya

Actors:

Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Katrina Kaif

Rating:

***

The Dhoom franchise is built on a carefully calibrated mix of preposterous gorgeousness, high-octane action, froth and a cheerful lack of logic.

In these movies, crime is sexy and consequence-free. Vehicles and property are freely destroyed but there is almost no bloodshed. We the viewers aren't meant to ask many questions.

In this

, you will wonder how the entire Chicago police force and a SWAT team were so easily fooled by a circus acrobat, and why a bank in Chicago will summon cops from India (Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra as ACP Jai Dixit and Ali) to solve a bank robbery. But ours is not to question why. We are meant to only have a smashingly good time.

So does Dhoom:3 deliver? Yes and no. The third installment, written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, is bigger and more plot-heavy than the first two. For the first time, we are given a detailed explanation of why the thief- in this case

, played by Aamir Khan - does what he does.

The film kicks off with a superb action sequence, but then becomes bogged down by the ridiculous backstory and Aamir's furrowed brow. He looks angst-ridden even in the tap-dancing title sequence. For a while, I wondered if the actor was simply too serious for a movie like this.

But be patient, because the narrative and thrills speed up in the second half. The big plot twist has been ripped off from Christopher Nolan's The Prestige, which was based on a book of the same name, but still, what Aamir does with it is remarkable. He's endearing, sweet and sad all at once. You can't look away from him. None of the others is as compelling - Uday Chopra does nicely as the

tapori

Ali, leaving the proceedings with much-needed humour. Abhishek Bachchan is serviceable and Katrina Kaif does what she is required to do, which is, look stunning. But I think the motorcycles have more screen time than her.

So see Dhoom:3 with your expectations at half-mast. It's not the popcorn thrill ride that I expected. There isn't enough joy in it. But Aamir and the stupendous action make it worth watching.