Okay, the film doesn't really start very well, but once the character of Lallu is introduced, it's quite fun and watchable. Towards the end, however, it goes back to being a rather pathetic sort of enterprise where some of the action and especially the court scenes are hilarious in their absurdity. The court in particular feels like a circus and I can't believe many of the things presented in it made sense to the writers, director, or actors playing in it. Everything in between, as Lallu enters the house of a wealthy businessman, gains his trust and eventually marries his spoilt daughter, is eminently watchable. The film takes plot elements from Umesh Mehra's own films like Mujrim, so everything is rather familiar, but it's watchable. Much of the film is set in a huge mansion, which is usual. The cinematography does get a little funny, as the lighting and the use of smoke and shades is exaggerated, but within the context of a thriller or mystery, it's quite passable.
Sabse Bada Khiladi rests on the able shoulders of Akshay Kumar, and you gotta like this actor, who's always greatly unaffected and whose wholesome personality and impressive agility in the action scenes and throughout the show is totally entertaining. Less should be said about the rest of the cast, including his pretty leading lady, Mamta Kulkarni, who just fills in the blank, and some of the caricature villains. Mohnish Bahl, for one, just doesn't suit his villainous turn at all. I wish the film had delved more into the romance between Akshay and Mamta, which was sadly lacking despite the shock value in some of their lip locks. The music is nice, especially that sensuous "Bharo" number (copied from Enigma's "Hallelujah"), which is quite exotic and is probably the only instance where Mamta gets an opportunity to shine through her dance and sultry presence. Sabse Bada Khiladi is a typical action film of the 1990s, and it's a little silly, but overall, quite fun.
