Movie Review: Cocktail | Filmfare.com
3.5/5
Director: Homi Adajania
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Diana Penty, Dimple Kapadia and Boman Irani
Both Imtiaz Ali (writer) and Homi Adajania (director) have broken stereotypes earlier in their films – Rockstar and Being Cyrus respectively, so it was bewildering to see them sticking to clichés – the good girl gets the guy while the bad girl gets punished for her choices – and because it’s a Hindi film, a chance for rehab and redemption. While the guy, who subscribes to the bad girl’s wham bam thank you stranger lifestyle, is expected to stay reformed and not stray in future because he has found the right girl. Two best friends falling for the same guy and then playing martyr for each other isn’t the most original of plot ideas.
That said, big things apart, Imtiaz and Homi have got the little things right. Saif and Deepika play this modern couple who are in it for sex. They don’t want emotional baggage or nuptial bonds. Friends with benefits is the norm these days and they have caught the right pulse. Sometimes, love starts with a spark of hate. Diana Penty abhors Saif in the beginning but slowly thaws to him – the little scenes between them are well written. I loved the scene where Saif employs his rakish charms and spouts cheesy lines to cheer her up at the Cape Town beach. Deepika’s transition from a party cat to an angry bitch is nicely brought out too. Then, the writer-director duo have tried to break the third wall by giving the actors dialogue about how it’s hard to sound natural while saying I love you. The in-jokes are fun if you get them.
Boman Irani and Dimple Kapadia play Saif’s mama (uncle) and mom respectively and look good in their cameos. Diana Penty is a find; she looks vulnerable and hot as required and makes a confident debut. Saif gets all the nice little touches of a man who had everything sorted out till love comes along and spoils the party. Deepika looks ravishing and is one actress who can carry off a bikini. She’s the soul of the film and excels in every scene, whether as a material girl who enjoys sex, drugs and rock and roll or as the jealousy ridden girl out to destroy herself. The good thing is that the actors gel together and look natural as a yuppie threesome having a good time.
The film is shot beautifully. Both the London and Cape Town portions looked picture perfect. Take a bow, cinematographer Anil Mehta! Mention must also be made of Pritam’s pulsating score, his best in years.
All-in-all, it’s a nice urban romance. But again, this isn’t how I would like to describe a Imtiaz-Homi collaboration. You expected something with a twist, what you get is a pat too sweet – a Bloody Mary without the Vodka.
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