Cocktail 2 – External Reviews

Thumbs up
by Sahelee Rakshit,

Bollywood Life

…One of the biggest strengths of Cocktail 2 is its writing. The dialogues are simple, practical and straight from real life. There is no attempt to sound overly dramatic or poetic, and that honesty works in the film’s favour.
Written by Tarun Jain with story by Luv Ranjan, the film understands the pulse of today’s relationships. The conversations feel lived-in, and many moments stay with you because of how familiar they sound….

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Thumbs up
by Trisha Gaur,

koimoi

…Living up to the nostalgia of Cocktail is a monumental task, but Cocktail 2 confidently creates its own identity. The script doesn’t try to replicate the Veronica-Meera-Gautam dynamic; instead, it updates the language of love, friendship, and unadulterated desire for 2026. The biggest victory of Cocktail 2 is its unapologetic maturity….

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So-So
by Divya P,

Deccan Herald

…‘Cocktail’ featured some banger music by Pritam and ‘Tum hi ho bandhu’ is still the most peppy track in this one as well. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran gives us sweeping shots of the exotic coastlines, enriching the film visually….

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So-So
by Devesh Sharma,

Filmfare

…Visually, the film is a treat. The Italian countryside has been beautifully photographed, and the production design is first-rate. Unfortunately, the shallow writing doesn’t give the actors much room to shine….

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So-So
by Lachmi Deb Roy,

FirstPost

…Towards the end, the film features profound discussions about love and responsibility, emphasising that love does not require constant agreement. It’s about a habit and getting used to each other, including the bad habits, and coming back to each other despite all the differences. The movie makes you believe that despite all the differences, a long-term relationship can never be disrupted; it is indeed like an old and torn T-shirt which makes you feel comfortable and lets you sleep peacefully every night!…

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So-So
by Ria Sharma,

Free Press Journal

…Visually, the film is gorgeous. Sicily’s stunning locations and scenic views add a lot of charm. But beyond the beautiful backdrop, the story offers very little that’s fresh. It is stuck in the past. It’s another familiar Bollywood lesson on love, marriage and relationships. The plot is predictable, there are hardly any surprises, and the film often feels like a sequel that didn’t really need to be made….

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So-So
by Rishabh Suri,

Hindustan Times

…Overall, perhaps the biggest issue with Cocktail 2 is that it constantly reminds you of a better film. The original Cocktail was messy too, but it had heart and characters you cared about. This spiritual successor has the gloss, the glamour, but not the emotional punch. Some drinks are best served once….

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So-So
by Sana Farzeen,

india today

…In a nutshell, Cocktail 2 is a beautiful-looking love story with surprisingly little love in it. By the end, you’ll remember the songs, the locations and the outfits, but you’ll probably want to forget the characters and the story….

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So-So
by Shubhra Gupta,

indian express

…Ultimately Cocktail 2 comes off a bit of a cocktail itself, swinging between style and substance . It is Shahid Kapoor who carries this film with a pleasing conviction I haven’t seen in a long time. And while I missed Deepika Padukone’s wild wounded-ness, Sanon isn’t half bad herself. But there’s no getting past the conservatism which comes wrapped in this pyaar ka punchnama: for all its modern vibe, it’s the guy who gets the last word, not the gals….

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So-So
by Sameer Ahire,

Movie Talkies

…Cocktail 2 turns out to be more watchable than expected. If you walk in with low expectations, it can serve as a decent one-time watch. However, it’s unlikely to appeal to single-screen audiences and works better as a multiplex entertainer….

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So-So
by Saibal Chatterjee,

NDTV

…The actors carry much of the onus. Shahid Kapoor is as steady as a rock even when the film isn’t. Kriti Sanon not only enhances the sensuality quotient but also goes beyond being skin deep. Rashmika Mandanna, playing the sedate Diya, pulls off the more dramatic passages with aplomb but is often relegated to a secondary role….

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So-So
by TITAS CHOWDHURY,

News18.com

…Cocktail 2 wants to bottle the upheavals of modern love but is too afraid of spilling any of it. For all its talk of complicated relationships and emotional infidelity, it remains too safe. The designer clothes and postcard-perfect locations stand out but this intoxication is fleeting. Once the high wears off, you’re left with a rom-com that’s little romance and even lesser comedy….

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So-So
by Gayatri Nirmal,

Pinkvilla

…Cocktail 2 suffers from a stretched second half and occasionally relies on familiar tropes. However, just when the narrative appears to be losing steam, the film finds its footing in the final 15 minutes. The climax packs enough emotional punch to make up for some of the unevenness that precedes it, ensuring that you walk out with a smile and perhaps even a lump in your throat. Cocktail 2 may not be intoxicating throughout, but its aftertaste lingers….

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So-So
by Agnivo Niyogi,

The Telegraph

…Pritam’s music and Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics complement the narrative effectively, even if the soundtrack lacks the instantly memorable quality associated with the original Cocktail. The songs serve the emotional flow of the story, especially during the European holiday narrative track….

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So-So
by Dhaval Roy,

Times of India

…If you enjoy relationship dramas that keep things light, musical and easy on the eyes, Cocktail 2 makes for a fun watch….

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Thumbs down
by Subhash K Jha,

Bolly Spice

…Kriti Sanon has some fun with her leggy part. But is eventually unable to pull off the various layers of subterfuge her role requires. The only hero of the show is Sicily. Sometimes you just feel like telling the silly characters to move out of the way. They are blocking the view….

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Thumbs down
by Aakash Kumar,

Filmi Beat

…Cocktail 2 turns out to be a strictly average film. It has good music and attractive visuals. However, the predictable writing and lack of emotional depth prevent it from reaching the level set by its predecessor. Fans looking for a light romantic entertainer may find enough reasons to watch it once, but those expecting the magic of the original Cocktail are likely to be disappointed….

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Thumbs down
by Nitin Jain,

Glamsham.com

…The music, despite arriving at frequent intervals, leaves surprisingly little impact. Considering the legacy of the original Cocktail and the importance of music in contemporary romantic dramas, the songs come and go without leaving behind a memorable tune or emotional resonance….

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Thumbs down
by Anindita Mukhopadhyay,

India TV

…Homi Adjania, who directed Cocktail in 2012, has helmed the sequel too. His style of filmmaking is modern and taps into the flavour of the season. While Cocktail 2 might not be his worst film, we definitely expected a better blend.
The characters seemed underdeveloped and unripe, as if a teaspoon of sugar would have saved the drink. But sometimes, all you need is a teaspoon for perfection. And a teaspoon could be a lot….

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Thumbs down
by Uday Bhatia,

Live Mint

…Cocktail 2 is frictionless filmmaking, glib enough to provide the illusion of a good time. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran’s photography is hideously bright and Insta-minded. The soundtrack is catchy but Pritam-by-numbers. There’s nothing at all apart from the central trio, and I couldn’t tell you a single useful thing about any of them aside from how they approach relationships. Nothing sticks, and maybe that’s the intention. Adajania won’t even commit to the contrived drama that builds before Diya and Kunal’s wedding, which Ally is attending as a ‘bridesmaid’; there’s a sudden lurch into manic comedy before Kunal tells the girls off one last time….

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Thumbs down
by Mayank Shekhar,

MiD DAY

…Or, maybe, that is the ending? Obviously, I’m not gonna tell you. There’s only one way for you to find out. Order this Cocktail too. Seriously. Must I suffer this hangover alone?…

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Thumbs down
by DEBANJAN DHAR,

Outlook India

…The game Diya set off has major emotional consequences which, when they inevitably happen, come as a shocker to her. Cocktail 2 makes Divya appear like a fool and Ally a loosely defined vamp. Kunal is the casualty. He is seen as someone hemmed between the machinations of the women. He’s perfectly gullible. The film keeps giving him the clean pass, pushing women into the jostling fray….

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Thumbs down
by sukanya Verma,

Rediff

…Of the three, Rashmika heaves and blows through a character that’s so illogical it’s almost pitiable.

Kriti Sanon delivers her va va voom brief in gloriously glamorous looks. Her saucy, mischief attitude would steal a lot more thunder if Cocktail 2 wasn’t so undecided about her sneaky ways. Change the background from soulful ballads to thriller scores and there’s a Fatal Attraction level of obsession twinkling in her glossy eyes….

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Thumbs down
by Nandini Ramnath,

Scroll.in

…The chemistry between Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor is missing too. However, Kapoor fares the best in Cocktail 2, apt as the loyal boyfriend who confronts temptation with a mix of pleasure and puzzlement. Kapoor is fully aware that Cocktail 2 is all about the glory of Kunal, and acts accordingly….

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Thumbs down
by Anuj Kumar,

The Hindu

…But the tragedy of Cocktail 2 is that it treats its audience exactly the same way. It is a messy cupboard of a movie, but instead of feeling comforting, it just feels exhaustingly predictable. There is nothing much to look at inside!…

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Thumbs down
by Shubhangi Shah,

The Week

…The film’s greatest strength, meanwhile, lies in its stunning shots of itself wasn’t a great film to begin with, “Cocktail 2” makes it look like a masterpiece….

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