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Homi Adajania’s Cocktail has opened to mixed reviews from the critics. While everyone has good things to say about the first half, it’s the second half that brings the film down. Saif Ali Khan has also received mixed reviews for his performance. Diana Penty makes an average debut. However from all the reviews it is clear that the star of the movie is Deepika Padukone who has given his career best performance in Cocktail.
On the box office, the film has opened to a good response. The opening at multiplexes has been excellent especially in Northern India. Here’s a look at the Cocktail reviews so far.
Total Reviews: 13
3.5 stars: 3
3 stars: 4
2.5 stars: 1
2 stars: 4
1.5 stars: 1
Times Of India 3.5 stars: Cocktail does have some terrific highs. One is Deepika Padukone’s performance. Easily the best in her five-year-long career; Deepika also looks sensational throughout. You almost wish the camera had stayed her longer on her in that red itsy-bitsy bikini. DP will definitely win notices and nominations for her near-faultless performance of the rich-spoilt-neglected-girl-with-a-heart-of-gold. However what Cocktail should be truly applauded for is its permissiveness. As a film it breaks shackles and ushers in a new free spirit that Gen-Now will relate to.
Koimoi 3.5 stars: Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali’s story is a run-of-the-mill love triangle. But it’s the screenplay and dialogues that make the movie enjoyable. Though Saif Ali Khan has some really cheesy pick-up-lines, he gets the best dialogues. Homi Adajania’s direction is alright. While he has chosen a bland story, he’s handled it quite well. Much of the credit also goes to cinematographer Anil Mehta. Pritam’s songs for the movie are very nice. Editing by A. Sreekar Prasad could have been tighter.
Indicine 3.5 stars: Saif Ali Khan is fantastic as Gautham with perfect comic timing and flair. As for Deepika, her performance looks pretty natural on-screen. It’s a character that required her to shed all her inhibitions, much like Vidya Balan in ‘The Dirty Picture’.. In short, a difficult role and she delivers! Finally, the surprise package – Diana Penty. Given a character that is quite easy to fall in love with, Diana adds her own charm to deliver what is easily the most-lovable performance of the year.
Bollywood Hungama 3 stars: COCKTAIL has a fascinating first half, charismatic performances, harmonious music and the trendy look and styling as its aces, but the second half is not as tempting or intoxicating as the first hour. It pales when compared to the attention-grabbing first hour. Yet, all said and done, this one’s primarily targeted at the Gen Next, especially those in metros, who might identify with the on-screen characters.
Zee News 3 stars: For those who have loved Saif and Deepika’s ‘Love Aajkal’, ‘Cocktail’ will not disappoint you as it has some shades of the former. The storyline of the movie is gripping and will keep you hooked and booked. Talking about the songs, they are as foot tapping as they could get. “Tumhi Ho Bandhu” deserves a special mention here as it will make you get up from your seats and shake a leg as the song is played on the big screen.
NDTV Movies 3 stars: The first half of the film is reserved for lively sweet nothings and comedic moments triggered by the unannounced arrival of the boy’s mother from Lajpat Nagar; the second half gets down to unfolding the larger business of the heartbreaks, hard knocks and eventual emotional salvation that follows.
DNA 3 stars: Homi Adjania’s direction is impeccable, with Padukone the jewel in his crown. Her character is complex and she displays just enough maturity while portraying it. Finally, one has a reason to say she can act. Penty is awkward, just like Meera. She reminds one of Nargis Fakhri in Ali’s last, Rockstar, only a little better. Khan “oozes charm” as he plays catch-up with much younger leading ladies.
Nowrunning 2.5 stars: Cocktail has the Imtiaz Ali stamp all over the first half of it. Written by the talented filmmaker and writer, the first half of the film, despite having very random sequence strikes an instant chord with the masses purely for its breezy approach. What works most for the audience is the effortless easy going acting by all the three characters in the film interspersed with some witty one liners, light-heartedness and a very new age approach to love and relationships.
Rediff 2 stars: Adajania starts off breezily enough, all effortless-flirting and shotglasses and dramatically teary mascara, but the threadbare and increasingly inane plot unspools halfway through, leaving us with a shoddy, frustratingly random sequence of events. The last one-third of the film features the kind of emotional melee that can only be rightfully resolved by handing one of the girls a samurai sword. Alas, no such bloody respite is offered.
Sify 2 stars: The film is well-packaged and looks good. But the story disappoints. Humour is consistent but not as funny as in other rom-coms. In places, the film tries too hard to be funny, like the scene where Saif is dancing in drag. The girls steal the show in this one. Deepika Padukone looks great and puts her heart in the role. A difficult character to essay, Padukone is consistently impressive.
Rajeev Masand 2 stars: The film attempts to be mature about pre-marital sex and adult relationships, and one scene at a kitchen counter in which Gautam explains their predicament clearly is nicely done, without falling prey to melodrama. But Cocktail slips just as often into cliche…like when ‘good girl’ Meera acts as if she’s tainted by real pasion, or when she sacrifices her love for her best friend. It’s the script that is to blame here, given that the film suffers from lazy, loopy writing. Everyone is trying too hard — to be cool, hip, funny or convincing — and as a result the film gives off the feeling that this generation is completely superficial, with no real emotions.
Glamsham 2 stars: What’s novel about the film is the scope Saif and Deepika (to an extent) get to showcase their talent. Saif is top notch as the Casanova, while Deepika shows glimpses of brilliance. This is by far her best performance. The scene where she goes out to party with Saif and Diana and then looks on with loathing at them dancing, and the camera talking (showing her in a crowd, yet all alone) takes the film to another level.
Yahoo 1.5 stars: Director Homi Adajania’s vision of a modern love story seems warped. It is devoid of any commitment, fickle enough to be chopped with a sickle and yet subscribes to every stereotype that one associates with love, circa aaj, kal and day after tomorrow. Also, it’s about time Saif Ali Khan’s characters stop drastically altering his personality from fun and flirty to love-sick romeo once he’s sipped the love potion.
