Homi Adajania's latest feature, Cocktail 2, follows the success of Cocktail (2012), an exploration of how modern love and commitment are viewed, through the lens of glamour. With Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna starring in the film alongside a strikingly beautiful backdrop in Sicily, Italy, the movie is visually stunning with its chic production design but ultimately does not tell a story that could possibly live up to the same level of "glossy."

STORYLINE

The story focuses on Kunal (Shahid Kapoor) and Dia (Rashmika Mandanna), a couple who have been together for several years, enduring long-distance and social pressure to marry; however, their relationship takes an unexpected turn when they meet Ally (Kriti Sanon) while on holiday in Sicily. Falling victim to insecurity, Dia persuades Ally to "test" Kunal's loyalty by attempting to seduce him. A simple "experiment" has turned into an intricate romantic entanglement with multiple instances of miscommunication, emotions in turmoil and bad decision-making by all parties. The ongoing confusion of emotions leads us to a predictable conclusion that is not without some family advice, lessons in relationships and drama-filled revelations.

POSITIVE POINTS

• Kriti Sanon has a strong and glamorous performance with lots of energy in her role.
• Rashmika Mandanna puts in a lot of work on a challenging role, captures the emotion of the character well.
• The music, stylish costumes, and beautiful cinematography make the film appealing to the eye.
• Shahid Kapoor gives a very good performance even though the screenplay was not written very well.

NEGATIVE POINTS

• The storyline feels dated; the writers had good intentions when they wrote about younger relationships but it seems like they used old ideas
• The love triangle follows a predictable pattern and lacks originality
• A number of character's decisions don't make rational sense and can't be easily understood by most viewers.
• The pacing of the film slows down significantly in its second half, therefore it feels longer than it really is.
• Some of the female characters’ storylines seem to change regularly and frequently in the film, making it difficult to relate to them on a personal level.

Overall: The film Cocktail 2 is very much a visually appealing love story filled with great performances and stylish aesthetics, yet it does not offer any depth to its storyline nor serve up as much new material as there is an abundance of already established conventions of storytelling about modern day romantic relationships... So for the many fans who like to watch beautiful looking romantic comedies the viewers of Cocktail 2 will likely find at least some enjoyment from the film; however, if you're on the look-out for something new with a fresh twist on romance, then Cocktail 2 may not be what you are looking for.