Sanket’s Review: “Cocktail” deserved better execution!

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Diana Penty, Deepika Padukone, Randeep Hooda, Dimple Kapadia, Boman Irani.

Director- Homi Adjaina

Length: 2.20 hours approximately.

If Imtiaz Ali has written the film, then one surely has a reason to get excited for a COCKTAIL. What’s in the store is something tad disappointing. To begin with, COCKTAIL has many clichés which a conventional two girls-one boy story has. She loves him, but he loves another ‘her’. COCKTAIL revolves around three different personalities who gets friend before they know it and love takes place between the three. And more importantly, some scenes definitely looks inspired from LOVE AAJ KAL and the whole Dimple Kapadia track looks lifted from Tarun Mansukhani’s DOSTANA. But all said and done, if someone is really looking for a buoyant, breeze love story, COCKTAIL is not bad an option.

The first half entertains and how! The proceedings has brisk pace and also there’s nothing serious about the film. The three guys are having fun and that is amazingly presented. The humor arrives mostly out of the realistic type conversations. Deepika Padukone’s entry is sparkling. The “Sheila ki Jawaai” dance brings the house down. In-fact it’s the best scene of the film and Saif deserves all the points for that scene. Also the two excellent songs “Daaru desi” and “Tumhi Ho Bandhu” raises the momentum. The first half is good, but the interval point guides you that the film have started to fall in that predictable zone.

And here you go- the second half goes as predictable as it could. Though some scenes like the one when Deepika is drunk and she throws away all her feelings. It’s such a poignant scene, which Deepika justifies it perfectly. But in overall scenario, the film drowns post intermission. The pace of second half is exactly in contrast of what the first half has.

Music is excellent. “Yaariyan”, “Second Hand Jawaani” and the other two of the first half are all very well composed and used in the film. Saif is good in his role. He understands how his character needs to emote and he does well. Diana Penty has some acting clutches for sure. Nonetheless, she looks gorgeous and does well in some scenes. But, if at all COCKTAIL is any good; thank it to Padukone who shows up a brilliant piece of acting. She proved it yet again how tremendously well she can act. Kudos to her! Dimple Kapadia and Boman Irani don’t have much to do. Randeep Hooda is fine. Imtiaz Ali’s script is not much happening but surely the film deserved better execution by Homi Adjaina who spoils it for in last 30 minutes. Its too damn slow than what it should have been. The editing should’ve been crispier.

To sum it up, COCKTAIL has its negatives in many forms, but it’s not entirely unwatchable. It has Deepika’s exemplary act, some good peppy music, amazing jokes and Imtiaz’s good dialogues. But, one surely had better expectations from COCKTAIL. Watch it if you promise yourself to not expect anything much from it.

Rating- 2/5 (Average)