ROAD had been touted as a film full of surprises and one that was sure to take the viewer for a roller coaster ride of thrills and suspense.

For the first half of the movie you might say writer Rajneesh Thakur succeeds. But as is the case with most promising Bollywood movies of late the suspense is short-lived.

It tells the tale of a young lad Arvind (Vivek Oberoi) and Lakshmi (Antara Mali) who decide to do a runner (what a surprise!).

On a long and dusty road they come across a hitch-hiker, Babu (Manoj Bajpai). So what do our hapless couple decide to do....yes give him a lift.

He turns out to be a annoying piece of work and seems to take a shining to Lakshmi.

The couple's worst nightmares are realised when the hitch-hiker decides to dump Arvind and make off with his girl at gunpoint.

He not only does this once but twice later in the movie (poor Arvind or stupid Arvind).

At this point the plot should have thickened but it doesn't which is a real let down.

The songs are average as is the acting with Manoj Bajpai at times trying too hard to play the psychotic kidnapper.

As for Vivek Oberoi he's still got that extra something he displayed in his first film Company.

Unfortunately for him the remainder of the movie is a somewhat long-drawn out affair with the odd chase here and there, too many shoot-outs and a couple of songs.