'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' opens on a familiar note. Three boys get together for a bachelors' road trip where it would be them and only them in Spain. As their journey continues through the scenic locations of Spain, something which actually eats up at least a quarter of the screen time of ZNMD, Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay indulge into various sports activities.
So while an oh-so-extended scuba diving with Katrina Kaif in company hardly manages to excite and actually starts boring after a while, the second sports activity comes way too late in the day. Thankfully it is the most exciting of the lot as the three guys get into some sky diving mode. And then there is this enthralling but abruptly cut short 'running with the bulls' (which incidentally was the original title of the film) sports which could have been just the kind of climax that would have raised the film's fortunes. However it turns out to be an anti-climax of sorts where one ends up wondering whether the concluding reel has gone missing from the final print.
So while the first half of the film actually keeps you engaged for most part of it, the second half doesn't quite carry much steam and even though there are a few good sequences thrown in, one does feel as if something is really missing. As for the end then well, it makes one truly believe that in an attempt to break rules, ZNMD has actually gone a little too far.
Thankfully there are witty one liners as well as realistically narrated sequences between the trio that keeps one's interest alive in ZNMD. So whether it is Farhan's constant 'bag worship', his mildly flirtatious ways or pulling Hrithik's leg time again - it all works in favour of the film, especially during the film's first half. Ditto for various tricks that Abhay plays on not just a few unsuspecting victims but even his friends when he claims to know their 'hidden secrets'.
On the other hand it won't be wrong to say that Hrithik's track is the weakest of the lot, what with majority of his scenes with Katrina acting as frequent speed breakers in the narrative. Yes, Katrina does well in what one could term as an extended special appearance (she just disappears for most part of the second half before making a sudden comeback) but then her constant 'gyaan' around life's philosophy only ends up distracting one more than being involved. This is the reason why even Farhan is fine as long as he is having fun but once his poetry starts playing in the background, ZNMD turns into a different film.
Having said that, most of the cast members have approached their part with full conviction. Hrithik starts off on an okay note but gets on his own during the latter part of the film. Farhan is the pick of the lot and that's because not just is his characterisation very convincing, he does quite well as an actor as well. On the other hand Abhay is quite adorable to begin with but as tension mounts in his personal life, his 'audience friendly' charm also goes sliding down. Katrina is fine and does her best not to be bogged down by a role that requires heavy-duty dialogue-baazi. Kalki's part had scope to be much funnier but she does well in her limited screen time. Naseruddin Shah is good in his cameo.
I am sure Zoya Akhtar's intentions would have been quite right when she embarked upon 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. She could have perhaps said to herself that 'Ok, let me make a film about male bonding with an element of philosophy about life being thrown in. In addition, I will break away from all the clich�s which means there won't be any skirt chasing, boys' visit to the night clubs and those pseudo 'hey dude' calls'.
Well, to a good extent she succeeds as well and though her story telling is unconventional, one doesn't see much harm even as it tries to go against the tide. Now how one wishes that the momentum was maintained right through those long two and a half hours of play time with a definite ending at the least that could have made all the difference for ZNMD to be real class apart than turning out to be a story which is good, but that's about it.
Rating: ***1/2
