By Martin D'Souza, Bollywood Trade News Network

HATTRICK is like a one-day international between minnows Bangladesh and Kenya. In a match between these countries who have yet to attain cult status, what can you expect but a boring encounter with brief cameos from batsmen from both side, and an almost empty stadium. This movie suffers the same fate.

The first half is like the middle-overs when the team batting first tries to stabilize the innings after the fall of quick wickets to not so impressive bowling! With batsmen failing to connect to the red cherry (read the cast of Danny Denzongpa, Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal and Rimmi Sen and the other extras), you let out a yawn and wonder what director Milan Luthria, (read captain) is thinking. The match is going out of his hand and he is clueless as to whether he has to use his seamers or spinners. He ends up doing a hotchpotch of things spreading the field and the team in desperate need to save runs ends up letting the ball slip through their legs! Poor fielding this!!

Towards the second half the match does get interesting in bits (brief cameos like I mentioned). Paresh Rawal and Nana Patekar manage a few lusty hits beyond the boundary. But that’s about it! Rimmi Sen, looking good, tries to infuse excitement whereas, Kunal Kapoor, promoted as pinch-hitter plays like an out-of-form Irfan Pathan at the top of the order. The music, which begins with a bang and suddenly goes off is like Mahendra Singh Dhoni (who gets a meaty mention in the movie); a 6 and 4 and then clean bowled. That feeling of being on a high and then suddenly being let down leaves a bad taste in your mouth. You wonder why the makers wanted music in the first place then!!!

As for the plot, what are you talking about? Cricket is used as a tool to lure the viewer with the World Cup on in the Caribbean, but you end up leaving the theatre with an aversion for the game. If that’s what the director was aiming at, he has succeeded. At least housewives who are bored of their husbands being glued to the television sets like morons will have something to cheer about.

SCOREBOARD: It’s hit-wicket!! (Read batsmen in trying to play the ball falls over his stumps).

Ratings: 1/5