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There is an old proverb that defines friendship; a friend in need is a friend indeed. Yes, this is what friendship is all about. There are many other definitions about the relationship, but this one describes the partnership as the best. Though Salman Khan doesn't run any venture in partnership with Govinda, yet he has proven umpteen times that he is a gem of friend. Salman provided Govinda a return break in Nikhil Advani's 'Salaam-E-Ishq' and now he presents Govinda as his buddy in 'Partner'. The film also unites veteran David Dhawan with his 'Hero No 1'.

More than a decade back David and Govinda ruled the box office; they gave hits after hits and to be precise 16 hits and super hits in a decade. This is sort of record that will be hard to break for any actor-director partnership. However, the problem arose when David thought of his Midas' touch and Govinda of his star status and started doing comedy films with other directors. Over the period, both Govinda and David have learnt the value of each other. So, they have come together to revive their fortune. It's a sort of comeback test for both of them and Salman plays a catalyst , rather a superb catalyst not only to make these two work together again but also for the film that works wonders if you are watching this with your partner.

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'Partner' isn't a story of two friends. Salman Khan plays Prem, The Love Guru. He is sort of a consultant who will give advise to those who wish to win their love. He is a famous figure and people chase him for this . One of his fans is Bhaskar Diwakar Chaudhary (Govinda). Bhaskar loves his boss Priya (Katrina Kaif). Since he is an ordinary employee, he daren't discuss his love with her. So, he approaches Love Guru for the solution.

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Prem errs in identifying the girl that Bhaskar is talking about and agrees to take up his case, but runs away when he learns that Bhaskar is actually in love with the daughter of a business tycoon. Then, the story takes a Tom and Jerry kind of turn and David seems to be highly inspired by Raj Kumar Santoshi's 'Andaaz Apna Apna' , as the ruffles and rashes that develop from the banging of Prem and Bhaskar are the same as in 'Andaaz Apna Apna'. It makes you laugh. It tickles you and it pleases you right at the place where you need it most. There are few more characters in the story like the single mother Naina (Lara Dutta), Rana (Puneet Issar) and Chhota Don (Rajpal Yadav).

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David Dhawan or say Salman Khan, as he is unofficial producer of the film (officially it is produced by his brother Sohail), has assembled a good cast. It is a visual treat to see two sensuous and gorgeous looking ladies in one frame. Lara Dutta has never looked so beautiful before. Besides, she is learning acting skills very fast. She is no more a showpiece kind of girl. Katrina Kaif's working in her beau's film has always been a fun.

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Most noteworthy that Salman allows her girlfriend to play the lead opposite his friend. This is Salman's large-heartedness . Who else could have agreed to be the heroine of a fading and almost out of the scene ex comedy star? But, Katrina plays her role with oomph thrown in at the right places. She dons gesture of a working lady when she is in office but looks like a woman on steam when she is in the bed. She looks hot! Among actors, Salman and Govinda are at ease working together and Salman repeats himself in most of the scenes. It is Govinda who tries to take out a rabbit from the hat in every scene.

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There isn't much to be done by a director in films like these as a technician. However, it takes a lot of guts to make two people of such a stature bring under one roof and treat both of them as the first lead of the film. What Priydarshan couldn't do in 'Bhagam Bhag' with Akshay and Govinda, has successfully been attained by David Dhawan in 'Partner'. The last five or 10 minutes of Suhag Raat sequences seem to be thrown in without any reason, though they are as entertaining as the whole film.

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However, this could make parents who come to see the film with kids jittery as the film has been given a U Certificate. Photography and editing are superb and so is the music by Sajid Wajid. The latter were once Salman's protégé and they also got a chance in 'Pyaar to Kiya Darna Kya', but later Himesh took over from them. But, Himesh has again fallen out of grace in the Salman camp. Hence, Sajid Wajid can cash on the music of this film for their better future. Songs like "Maria Maria" and "Do you wanna partner" are already craze of the nation and will certainly give the film a push at the box office. A must watch for this weekend!