Abbas-Mustans films are known for their suspense and mystery. Also the combination of Subhash Ghai as a producer generates high anticipation for 36 China Town. Abbas-Mustans last film Aitraaz received due applause, hence the masses are bound to expect a film that will further whet their appetite for a great thriller. But 36 China Town is a complete disappointment from the makers of previously gripping, mysterious and dramatic films. A mysterious thriller genre film should keep the audiences guessing till the end and have a bang-on exhilarating climax. Unfortunately, 36 China Town doesnt have any of these ingredients.

36 China Town produced by Subhash Ghai and directed by the talented Abbas-Mustan duo belongs to the suspense thriller genre. The film has a fresh and young star cast, consisting of Shahid Kapur, Kareena Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, debutant Upen Patel, Tanushree Dutta, Paresh Rawal, Johny Lever, Tannaz Currim, Isha Koppikar and other character actors. The screenplay and story writing has been done by Shyam Goel and the music for the film has been composed by Himesh Reshammiya.

Sonia (Isha) is a suave, ruthless and completely business minded person. She lives in a beautiful mansion called China Town in Goa and runs a casino called Hollywood. Only her young son is the dearest person in her life and she becomes distraught when he is kidnapped. In desperation she places an advertisement in the paper willing to dole out a reward of 25 lakhs to the person who bring her son back to her, safe and sound. Coincidentally, Raj (Shahid) and Priya (Kareena) find Sonias kid in Mumbai. Raj is a struggling actor who needs to fund his stay in Mumbai and Priya too requires money as she has run away from home to avoid marriage. The two get together, decide to take the boy back to his mother and split the reward money. En route to the mansion in Goa Raj and Priya become close to the young boy and their friendship blossoms into love.

However, what seems as a simple way to earn some hard cash, later turns into a nightmare when the two find Sonia dead in her home. The couple is flabbergasted on seeing the dead woman and immediately run away from the spot. But unfortunately, Priya leaves her suitcase behind in the frenzy to get out of the house. This leaves a trail of clues implicating the couple. The cop (Akshaye) who is the investigating officer in this homicide knows this is not an open and shut case. He tries to unearth the real culprit, but simply comes up against more suspects, the playboy casino employee Upen Patel, a compulsive gambler Paresh Rawal and his whacky wife Payal Rohatgi, another casino addicted couple Johny Lever and his wife, and many others like a drunkard and several of the domestic help in Sonias home. The detective now has to find the real killer and his/her motive.

Abbas-Mustan have given the film a glossy and slick style. The picturisations are all stylized in a completely modern manner. Their actors are young, fresh and look great. The cinematography by Ravi Yadav is excellent with beautiful locations shot abroad. The editing too is neat and precise. The plot has all the basic elements of a murder mystery, the murder, a set of suspects and their unknown intentions. The film also has a few good songs by Himesh. Unfortunately, in spite of all these elements, the script is the main ingredient which takes the film on a downward spiral.

The murder mystery and the suspense surrounding it should be the main focus in this thriller, but unfortunately very little attention is given to suspense and mystery in this film. The film is a mixed potboiler of comedy, love angle, song and dance routine, item numbers and slick locations. More often than not these nuances are at the center of the film completely sidelining the main focus which is that of the murder. The suspense and the mystery is continuously interrupted by songs which break the focus and flow. The comedy too is interspersed to fit in some light moments, but leads to diverting the viewers attention. And finally the love story is just there as it is simply crucial to have a love angle in a Hindi film. Beautiful foreign locations are termed as Mumbai and Goa, for reasons unknown. The climax is the biggest letdown of the film. The directors execution too suffers due to lack of good writing.

36 China Town has too many distracting elements incorporated, the script is poor, even the dialogues dont manage to perk up the script; the suspense factor is not present and the climax is thoroughly disappointing. Akshaye Khanna is average in his performance, Kareena Kapoor is pretty but does not have an integral role, Shahid Kapoor still needs to work on his acting to perform better, Paresh Rawal and Johny Lever were pleasant in their humourous avatars. Isha Koppikar, Tanaaz Currim, Payal Rohatgi are present only to balance out the number of men in the film. Upen Patels debut is just average. The rest in their roles are able. And Priyanka Chopras cameo is just that, a special appearance to add star value.

36 China Town lacks the imperative suspense and high drama associated with a thriller. At the box-office the film may draw an average response, as it is a typical masala potboiler film with a dash of all the necessary requirements thrown in for good measure. But in terms of creativity, it is highly disappointing as a thriller.