COCKTAIL

If you got nothing to do, get yourself a cocktail. And by Cocktail, I’m referring to the drink, not the film!

Caught between friendship and love are three distinct characters- wild and carefree Veronica (Deepika Padukone), casanova Gautam(Saif Ali Khan) and the typical Indian girl Meera(Diana Penty). Who ends up with whom?

The film has neither sincerity nor an entertaining value. It rests way too much on Veronica’s sexy and wild avatar.  Deepika Padukone plays Veronica with the right oomph and power, but falls low on scenes that require her to actually act. Saif Ali Khan does what he is good at onscreen- flirting at first, remaining confused next and falling in love finally- but at least choose a good film to do that in, man! Perhaps a younger actor could have done a better job. Diana Penty may have acted well, but the script and the film grab our attention more, which is unfortunate.

Director Homi Adajania depicts his guts in making a boring, melodramatic and obsolete film in today’s times when films at least attempt to prove that they are different. He shows no signs of realization of doing this, whatsoever. Being worthy of notice however are some of the special effects- Discotheque scenes, fast paced camera movements and flickering lights strive to stylize the film. The dialogues can constantly remind you of who one of the writers of the film is, but that does not help either. Don’t expect the climax to be any different from Love Aaj Kal, excepting the fact that there is hardly the charm or enduringness of it.

Dimple Kapadia and Boman Irani seem to be victims of a second hand script. Attempts at humor appear desperate- what else explains Saif in a women’s wear dancing to Shiela Ki Jawaani! Very few gags are worth a laugh. Music (Pritam) provides relief only at times. The song that truly possesses the spark is Tum Hi Ho Bandhu, which is why it is out of sync with the film!

You can watch it for a sizzling Deepika Padukone. Not much.

RATING- 1 star

BOL BACHCHAN

When comedy film directors depict melodrama, you are left thinking a-joke-is-up-his-sleeve! Now they seem to be leveraging on that thought. Be it Rohit Shetty or Sajid Khan they seem to be depicting an amazing connection between melodrama and comedy – melody!

Left cheated by a family member, Abbas Ali (Abhishek Bachchan) and his sister Sania (Asin) come to the beautiful village of Ranakpur in Rajasthan. Abbas finds work under the most powerful man, Prithviraj Raghuvamshi (Ajay Devgn) who believes in ethics and hates lies. Little does he know that Abbas has not one but a thousand lies up his sleeve!

A scene in the movie shows Devgn and Bachchan encircled by innumerable goons against whom they fight- a few dhishum dhishum and lots off sound effects later, the baddie’s are left injured halfway in the air in a circle in slow motion! If you can laugh there, you’ve got the nerve of the film.

Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan depict right in the beginning that they are the heroes, root upon them and you shall win! Needless to say, they both give very good performances as they set in the tenor of the film. Abhishek deserves praise for his gay act as Abbas Ali- after all he possesses a prior experience (Dostana). He gets it all, from body language to comic timing. The sound of Prithviraj hitting hard his tattooed chest can make you wonder if he has gulped down a microphone! However it has the shtyle, so does his Englis! If a scene begins to take a dip, an ingredient is immediately added to tickle your bone. The element of humor sustains the film well. Leading ladies Asin and Prachi Desai give decent performances but the lady who grabs attention is Archana Puran Singh who performs impeccably- Be it the ‘mehfil ki shaan, Zohra’ or playing the ‘maa’ with long grey dyed hair, her expressions deserve applause.

Of course there is lots of destruction, shattering, explosion and all the noise that comes with it. The director shows keen interest in blowing up vehicles, crashing shops and making apt usage of ladder, pole or anything handy along with the thrashing shots! Special effects+Slow motion= IStyle! 

The title song featuring the legendary Amitabh Bachchan cannot not leave an impact. He is symbolic of power, an entertainer in true spirit. The conceptualization of the song, choreography and lighting add glamour. Talking of music, we surely never thought of rhyming jaan, baan and praan! - Perfect for the film.

Never does the film promise utmost originality, but does believe in a plot and comedy. The climax might remind you of not just one but two Anees Bazmee films, but look how unabashed the film is about doing it! Anything, for that smile and that laugh.

It’s a Rohit Shetty film- anything can happen. The VFX artists can blow off a car without people in it and expect you to believe that people are in it. It’s a Rohit Shetty film- anything can happen.

Go to watch the Bachchan dance­ – A 'kathak' performance you better not miss!

RATING – 3 stars