Movie Review: Kambakkht Ishq

Before watching this movie i had heard many negative reviews about it. Many critics giving it one or two stars out of 5 in leading newspapers or magazines. Critics were criticizing Akshay Kumar on the same grounds that they were doing during "Chandni Chowk To China", that his movies don't have any story or script, they just rely on Akshay's funny hysterics. Even one of my close friends said that her friends had gone to watch it and they left the theater half way during the movie.

Still i had the determination and the courage to watch it, and in the end it was very satisfactory to say the least. The movie entertains you during its 2 hour 16 minute run. The first half passes swiftly and during the second half somewhere the movie pace slackens but it makes up for it when judged in its totality. The biggest criticism of this movie that's doing the rounds is that it is cheap and vulgar. Except the liberal use of words like "dog" and "bitch" i didn't felt anything was vulgar. Other topics or jokes have been presented in an exaggerated manner in other movies like "Kya Kool Hai Hum", a movie notoriously famous for its vulgar comedy. There have been many comedies with a vulgar touch like Masti, No Entry and i would put this movie in the same league. Its bordering on the edge of vulgarity but nowhere crosses it. And also nowadays Indian censor board and movies are getting more and more open.

Lets get back to the movie again. Akshay Kumar as usual delivers in his role which he has now enacted multiple times. Kareena Kapoor looks uncomfortable in some scenes but still does justice to the character. Aftab Shivdasani and Amrita Arora are there for few minutes only, still they do justice with whatever they were given. I found Javed Jaffery's overacting funny in few scenes. Boman Irani is good in the only scene in which he featured. Kiron Kher is as usual playing the same role which i have seen her play in her past 10 movies or so, a caring mother or aunt. Cameos from Hollywood stars are insignificant and they are there for a few scenes only so they don't make much of an impact.

The movie works in parts, somewhere very good, somewhere bad. Some scenes are funny, where as some scenes tries painfully to be funny with no success. Also the movie lacks where all the critics point out. There is not much of a story, we have witnessed similar stories for years. Screenplay is not that good, some scenes are unnecessarily loud. If this movie succeeds, which i have heard it has as it has grossed Rs 100 crores in such a short time, it would be only because of Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor's screen presence. They both carry their characters with absolute panache. The movie has many funny moments in first half and some dull moments in the second half, but overall its a joyful ride and can easily be considered a one-time watch. Finally Akshay Kumar delivers a hit after his recent debacles like 8x10 Tasveer, Chandni Chowk To China and Jumbo. And he does that in the similar fashion in which he is criticised time and again by critics, here is one actor who doesn't gives a damn about critics' views and audiences loves him this way only. Way to go Akshay!! Well Done...