Cocktail 2 REVIEW: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna’s Starrer Has Right Amounts Of Drama, Dance And Confusion Apt For A Perfect Romantic Watch

Film:
Cocktail 2

Director: Homi Adajania

Writer: Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Rashmika Mandanna,

Runtime: 149 Minutes (2 Hours, 29 Minutes)

Platform: In Theatres

Cocktail 2 Review

A spiritual sequel of Imtiaz Ali (writer) and Homi Adajania’s (director) Cocktail – starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, Cocktail 2 is a commendable effort by Bollywood to showcase modern romance with all its ups and down. But are the makers successful in hitting the mark with the complex, chaotic romance led by Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna? Well, they 100% are. Read our detailed review and know why you should book your tickets ASAP and watch this rom-com this weekend its self.

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Directed by Homi Adajania, Cocktail 2 attempts to portray modern relationships as raw as it possible can – complete with all the mess, confusion, and highs. Unlike the spiritual prequel that focused on supporting characters such as Boman Irani’s Tinku mama, this film is solely centres on the three leads – Kunal (Shahid), Diya (Rashmika) and Ally (Kriti). It skips family drama and sheds light on real issues faced by young couples – silent insecurities, communication caps, being emotional dependent on someone and living a life for the Gram.

The narrative follows Kunal – a carefree chef/restaurant owner, and Diya – a corporate executive, as they navigate life as a modern couple who have been together for over 15 years. The duo – who are currently being questioned as to when they will tie the knot, have spent quite a few years as a live-in relationship. Things between them get complicated when Ally – Diya’s college friend, steps into the picture during a vacation in Sicily, Italy. During this 10-day vacay surrounded by sun, sand and wine, sparks fly between Kunal and Ally and potentially has the power to burn a relationship that survived 16 years, including long distance.

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What Works

The crackling chemistry between the trio works – despite the story not promoting a threesome relationship in any way. The BGM is an added bonus that keeps the story engaging. The dialogues – though heavy at times, land perfectly and reflect the reality many couples face today. The songs – most of which are already viral, transport you to Italy and make the narrative more immersive.

Technical Analysis

Story & Screenplay

Penned by Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, Cocktail 2 is a fresh take on modern dating and relationship. It successfully manages to entice the audience as it relies on situations we witness in relationships today and not some made-up scenarios. The dialogues are also well written and manage to steal the scene as they are real and not something you will hear only being delivered in theatres.

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Direction

When a film is a sequel – or even a spiritual sequel, it has a stand to live up to. Fortunately, the high standard set by Homi Adajania in Cocktail are met with flying colours. The effort put into getting this story to live is clearly evident and the final product manages to deliver the exact magic we experience while watching the prequel. Homi has successfully captures the chemistry between the characters in the same manner he did with Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty on-screen.

Cinematography & Fashion

Visually, the film is stunning, especially when it comes to showing Indian audiences Sicily. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran’s camera work is on-point. Kudos to Anaita Shroff Adajania for the effortless styling of all three characters, especially Kriti’s Sicily outfits and Rashmika’s bridal wardrobe. They give the film a sleek, gorgeous vibe.

Editing

The editing is on point and doesn’t feel dragged even during a single scene. The songs are not only well placed into the narrative but incorporated seamlessly.

Music

The soundtrack – composed by Pritam and penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya, are peppy, emotional and will make you remember your first love. Despite listening to the songs – especially Jab Talak, Mashooqa and Tujhko, on loop, they still manage to capture the viewers’ audience and make sure they do not skim a look at their phones even once. The background score hits all the right emotional notes without feeling forced or out of place.

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Cocktail 2 Star Cast

All three actors deliver good, believable performances. Shahid Kapoor is mature but still gives off a chocolate-boy vibe we all love. He delivers a grounded, vulnerable performance – especially in the second half, despite it being dialogue-heavy. He makes hearts skip a beat every time he despites to smile.

Rashmika is endearing as Diya. She beings a softness to the narrative while also showcasing raw emotions of insecurities and jealousy. She manages to command every emotional scenes with her expressive eyes that speaks a thousand words. Kriti Sanon is literally a narbhakshi (man eater) in Cocktail 2! She commands the screen as Ally not only with her stylish fashion but also a calm, mature but carefree personality. Even when she’s ‘manipulative’ she still wins hearts.

Conclusion

After disappointing us with ‘modern romances’ like Do Deewane Seher Mein, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and more, Bollywood has finally hit the bull’s eye in how such stories should be presented. While the Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna-led romantic drama will make you chuckle from time to time, it also leaves a important message of trust, love and loyalty when the end credits roll by.

Watch Cocktail 2 in theatres this weekend for an experience unlike any other. PS: Don’t forget to take your partner along.

Watch the trailer of Cocktail 2 here:

Also Read: Main Vaapas Aaunga REVIEW: Imtiaz Ali’s Partition Drama Through The Lens Of Love And Longing Is Unmissable