Cocktail 2’s trailer doesn’t reveal the exact story and that works in the film’s favour. There are moments that border on bizarre, but director Homi Adajania treats them convincingly and hence, one goes along with the developments. Along with writers Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, he avoids taking the conventional route during confrontational scenes and instead adds quirk to such moments, which comes across as a breath of fresh air. Yet, the film is not shallow and the climax proves it. On the flipside, despite the best efforts, the film does get silly at places. The pre-climax is weak and leaves viewers wondering where the film is headed. Also, Kunal’s character is not fleshed out adequately and we don’t fully understand what makes him the way he is. Speaking of performances, Kriti Sanon steals the show. This is her best performance after Mimi and hopefully, the film gives her career the kind of boost that Cocktail did for Deepika Padukone. Shahid Kapoor is presented in a dashing avatar and, as expected, delivers a smashing performance. Rashmika Mandanna gets somewhat overshadowed but there’s no doubt that she puts her best foot forward. Tiku Talsania has limited screen time initially but leaves a mark later on. The songs are well-wovem into the narrative and ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu’ in particular arrives at a crucial juncture. All in all, Cocktail 2 is a breezy, fun-filled entertainer.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!