Mr. X

I usually abstain myself from rating a film 0%, but earlier this year Roy (2015) and then Ek Paheli Leela (2015) forced me to go ahead with naught. Vikram Bhatt's latest experiment also falls in the same category.

With a feeble opening sequence, the film begins to confirms its audience's nightmare by constructing a make-believe story on a clumsy and baseless plot. Raghu (Hashmi) is an officer with the anti- terrorist squad who is cheated by his own men and eventually murdered. Only, to find that he's not really dead, but invisible; and helping him in becoming undead is, no prize for guessing, none other than the Almighty. Now, as absurd as it sounds, the writers flounder with the most basic factor involved in a sci-fi setup like this - they fail to distinguish between science and God. And we end up wondering - was it God that made him invisible or science? And if you choose to watch this (which I am advocating you not to), that should be the one thing you must try to find out, for there is not much excitement anywhere else.

There is dub-step music for revelers if they feel like getting up in between the movie and dance. The dialogs are pure terrible with some examples that goes like "...nahi, tum kanoon mat todo..." as if justice is a ceramic plate, or "...jab science ko kuch pata nahi hota, to samaj lo wo Bhagwan hai..." While Emraan Hashmi is the showman, he clearly does what he was told and I am not much of a fan of his script- choosing abilities. His co-actor Amyra Dastur should have packed her bags the day she was cast opposite Prateik Babbar in her debut film. She CANNOT act. Period.

In addition, the CGI makes Jaani Dushman (2002) look like a masterpiece. There is no single source of entertainment in this film that one could possibly extract. With scenes copied from Badshah (1999) and The Italian Job (2003), Mr. X should be shoveled right into where most films of the Bhatt clan go: the overfilled dustbin.

BOTTOM LINE: I cannot be more critical than this and if you still decide to watch it, then let Mr. X save you. 0/10 - fail.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

The idea of the story had enough potential to make a interesting movie. But, the script, screenplay, acting are all below par, making for a stale fare. Nothing is redeeming about this movie. You can probably watch it with the comfort of the remote. Even a bad plot can be redeemed to some extent with good acting, but here both EmraanHashmi and Amrtya are below par. Amrtya is totally wooden and misfit in a already hopelessly written role. Hashmi appears and disappears as the invisible guy, but his presence or lack of it doesn't make any difference. Of course, he does get couple of trademark smooching scenes. One can't help recollect the excellent MR.India movie, a movie based on an invisible lead, to contrast how poor this one fares, even with technology of 30 years forward!

Mr X review :

He is an ATS cop livin' in with his junior colleague. The lovers crack down on terrorists and make out during their spare time. Life's pretty wham bam (pun unintended) for the couple until Mr. Cop becomes victim of a conspiracy, gets burnt in a chemical factory, emerges as an invisible entity and rechristens himself Mr. X. Directed by Vikram Bhatt for his family banner (Vishesh Films) and featuring their in- house protege Emraan Hashmi as You-know-who, the film is a latest interpretation of the invisible man.

If the attempt was one upmanship on Shekhar Kapur's 1987 classic 'Mr India' or an Indianised 'Hollow man' (2001), regret to inform that X comes nowhere close to them. At most, it gets better than RGVs unbearable 'Gaayab' (2005) which had an invisible Tusshar Kapoor doing unmentionables to Antara Mali.

Of the cast, Emraan Hashmi plays the lead with a feel that he can do such roles in his sleep now. Newcomer Amyra Dastur is easy on the eyes but falls flat on the acting front. Still, she fares better than Arunoday Singh who makes a laughing stock of his ATS chief character. He deserves applause for providing unintentional LOL moments in serious situations something even Tanmay Bhat (of 'All India Bakchod' defame), the supposed comedian of the piece isn't able to pull off.

The dialogues are stale. Lyrics contrived. And the music unsatisfactory. The conspiracy plot is borrowed from SRK starrer 'Baadshah' (1998), transformation to invisibility has a 'Hollow man' hangover and the vigilante hero resembles 'Mr. India'. Situations are specially created for item numbers and smooch sessions.

The only positive aspects are the VFX and 3D effects worked within a low budget, something Vikram Bhatt has mastered over the years ('Haunted', 2011 and 'Raaz 3D') and he doesn't disappoint on this front!

One thing certain, Emraan Hashmi needs to shed his repetitive acts film after film and re-invent himself at the earliest. He's clearly not enjoying himself in such mediocre enterprises now and the disinterest shows on screen. As a film reviewer, I may be sounding harsh and judgemental, but trust me sir, the audience can be more cruel!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

I stopped watching Bollywood movies but after watching 'Badlapur', I thought they aren't that bad and so went to watch Mr. X because of its interesting plot which made me realize why I stopped watching Bollywood movies (again).

The film starts abruptly giving a crash course for the character's life, whole character development in first 15 min with the song, after that the characters are dropped and the actors are allowed to do whatever the hell they want.

The movie insults the intellect of the audience by offering bullshit logical explanation to how the protagonist gains his powers and what exactly is his power set. Somehow, a chemical that he ingests not only makes him invisible but also his clothes!! He becomes visible irrespective of the light source's direction. It is more than apparent that they have bent the logic to their convenience like giving the power of invisibility to a piece of clothing which had nothing to do with the chemical ingested or the chemical at the warehouse, just to keep the character clothed whenever he decides to make an appearance.

The heroine is given a complicated and borderline artificial personality, also a not so subtle attempt to portray her as an antagonist which FAILS and instead comes out really foolish.

The only thing that made this movie different was the new antagonist, he really had a presence but fellow actors sabotaged his talent and made him look like a fool too. Anyways the reason I rate this 4 instead of 2 is because of the antagonist.

I know getting an original idea is tough but doesn't mean that the producers (and/or directors) get to pick out a movie out of the shelf and remake it into a monstrosity.

To the directors: Please invest some time and find a set of eyes with a brain to tag along with you when you waste money making movies which kill your reputation and the viewer's time.

Moral of the story for the viewers: Check (and believe) the IMDb score before you decide to go to a movie!

Vikram Bhatt's 'Mr. X' rides on an interesting premise, that had tremendous potential to become a solid Sci-Fi Thriller, but what is eventually served here, is bland.

'Mr. X' Synopsis: After gaining the power of invisibility; a man becomes a vigilante, in order to take revenge on those who have wronged him.

'Mr. X' doesn't make use of its blockbuster storyline. The Screenplay is problematic & unconvincing. The Screenplay has a few good moments initially, but just drops later-on. You don't root or feel for the Protagonist in his quest for revenge.

Vikram Bhatt's Direction is below average. Cinematography is fair. Editing is zigzag. Music is the sole saving grace. Special Effects are ordinary.

Performance-Wise: Emraan Hashmi is strictly okay, delivering a very ordinary performance. Amyra Dastur looks gorgeous, but that's about it! Arunoday Singh is better. He holds on his own as the villain. Funnyman Tanmay Bhat is unimpressive.

On the whole, 'Mr. X' doesn't work.