One of the most anticipated movies of the year, Cocktail 2, is finally running in theatres. Produced by Maddock Films, the movie is the spiritual sequel to the 2012 movie Cocktail. Starring Kriti Sanon, Shahid Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna, Cocktail 2 explores the modern dynamics of relationships and friendships, but is it worth booking the tickets for? Read our review of Cocktail 2 to find out more.

Cocktail 2 review: Same story in glossier packaging

The story introduces us to Diya (Rashmika Mandanna) and Kunal (Shahid Kapoor), who are in a happy relationship. They have been together for 16 years, so the only question is, when are they getting married? But they have mutually decided that they don’t want to. When they both travel to Sicily for a vacation, they meet Ally (Kriti Sanon), who used to be Diya’s friend in college. Ally is the carefree, live-in-the-moment, adventurous type. She doesn’t believe in love, or rather, settling down for love. To test if Kunal actually loves her, Diya convinces Ally to seduce Kunal and make him fall in love with her. As their vacation proceeds, Ally’s efforts to flirt with Kunal keep getting intense.

The movie is a stunning visual experience, but that’s about it

Shot in Sicily, the movie has some stunning visuals that will keep you glued to the screen. Moreover, the styling of characters is fabulous, contributing to a visually rich experience. Even the songs of the movie show some fast-moving, vibrant visuals that give very upbeat and giddy vibes.

Apart from this, Cocktail 2 offers little else. The storyline is the same old recycled love triangle, which wouldn’t have even existed if the characters were mature enough to behave like adults. Ally’s character fits into all the possible stereotypes that Bollywood has created in the name of carefree women. She’s sexually liberated, doesn’t believe in love, and wants to experience everything. And then, of course, she meets a guy who makes her feel the way she has never felt before. The movie is written by Luv Ranjan, and it shows. Expect women to be selfish and evil.

When Cocktail was released in 2012, we were already sad that two women were fighting for the love of a man-child. But with Cocktail 2, we expected more than watching two women fighting over a man. However, this time, Kunal isn’t a manchild. In fact, he is the only somewhat sane adult among the three. The second half of the movie offers some laughs, but not enough to save the lazy and weak screenplay. It also gives us a monologue in hopes of redemption, but it doesn’t work at all.

Kriti Sanon is the saving face of this mess

Kriti Sanon carries the entire film. Her Ally might give you the same vibes as Shailee from Do Patti. Kriti Sanon’s transformation from a sweet, lively woman to a subtly scheming vamp is smooth and believable. Shahid Kapoor has also done a pretty good job. He understands Kunal and what the character represents and portrays him convincingly. However, Rashmika’s dodgy Hindi is a barrier, and her character also has absolutely nothing to showcase her talent.

Overall, Cocktail 2 offers nothing new in terms of storyline, themes or the technicalities of filmmaking. It is easily skippable.

Can you watch Cocktail 2 with family? It’s an A-rated film, so it’s best not to watch it with the fam!

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