Film review: Robot

• Cast Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rajnikanth
• Director Shankar
• Genre Drama/thriller
• Rating G

Superhero powers: check. Death-defying stunts: check. Sleek special effects: check. Flashy costumes: check. A stunning lover: check. Perky music: check. Shankar meets all the parameters of a Rajnikanth film. He hits the nail on the head with Robot, a fantasy tale that glorifies the star.

Being a novice to this style of films, the flamboyance can be overwhelming but for a conditioned Rajni fan, Robot packs in the right punch. Let's just say, Rajni films are like sushi, it's an acquired taste!

Hollywood experts' show of spectacular special effects finds an overkill, on more occasions than one, with Shankar overindulging in it. An entire sequence dedicated to mosquitoes is juvenile.

Like all Rajni films, women aren't credited with much barring their oomph factor. So, in that context, Bachchan manages just fine. Except for a few instances, where her feather wig makes her look impish. Rajni plays Rajni, and with aplomb. He's a maverick magician, who makes even a robot appear desirable.

Our only word of advise: skip the dubbed Hindi version and go for the original.