STORY: Seenu loves Sunaina but they’re chased by a stalking cop, an infatuated beauty and her mafia don dad – can Seenu’s heroics work?

REVIEW: Main Tera Hero (MTH) is a glittering vehicle for star son Varun Dhawan to drive, which he does with practiced panache. However, even more than Junior, MTH has his dad David Dhawan stamped all over it. Hence, eternally smiling Seenu (Varun) is unfazed by failure or goons. Seenu pauses from cheeky grinning only to dance and romance, falling for Sunaina (Ileana), stalked by violent Angad (Arunoday) and sidekick Peter (Rajpal).

More superhero than hero, Seenu shows Angad his mean fight moves, but finds himself captured by ardent Ayesha (Nargis), whose ‘Dadduz’ Vikrant (Kher) is the biggest don of Asia and Africa too! How can Seenu get out of so many clutches? This being a David Dhawan movie, things get complicated but never grim.

Thus, MTH’s mafia dons are portly, chuckling men, the hero expresses love by asking, “Do you want to make the frandship with me?”, Ayesha makes Seenu recall Basanti pawed by Veeru, and that lovely 1990s’ filmi word – “Unkil!” – resounds once again. Seenu even does a brilliant bhajan take-off on Budtameez Dil. The plot is familiar Dhawan territory – one boy, two babes, a mansion and many clowns – but with new landmarks, from plunging bikinis to lipglossed kisses, thrown in.

Varun meshes Govinda, Michael Jackson and his own madness well. He gets better in a stronger second half, bolstered by gorgeous Nargis pouting, “Thenk you, Dadduz!” and the banter between Kher and snarling subordinate Bally (Shukla). Arunodaya surprises – the actor’s evolved, pulling off threats and blushes to comic effect. Those seeking movies with meaning, note – Main Tera Hero is a pav bhaji picture, quick, spicy, hot. It has the depth of a comic strip but it also has its neon-shaded fun. For those who want a light laugh, here’s your boy