While the going is good, ‘Shaadi’ is fun, and real, and has some nice laugh-out-loud situations which the leads make the most of. But marriage takes two, and the tango here is only from Sid’s perspective : how about showing us what it could be like from Trisha’s?

The screenplay lurches randomly, eventually leading to a climax so convoluted and false that much of the affection I had for Sid and Trisha evaporated.

Which is such a shame because until then, I was having so much fun.
Shaadi Ke Side Effects is in equal parts, enjoyable and exasperating. Pretty much like the average marriage.

Shaadi Ke Side Effects is a greater film on screen than it is on paper because it has the talented Mr Akhtar and Ms Balan. Both bring warmth and a mature, knowing naughtiness to their interactions. They are fun to be with.

Shaadi Ke Side Effects is recommended because, despite its flaws, it is passable fun while it lasts.

Vidya Balan is sincere in her act but it is Farhan Akhtar who carries the film through. His comic timing and his portrayal of emotions elevates the film considerably. Shaadi Ke Side Effects is like a meal which has a promising appetizer, bland main course with the odd tasty chutney.

…started out with a lot of promise but like a talented cricketer, overburdened with sudden fame, soon died out.

To sum it up, Shaadi Ke Side Effects is a great rom-com gone bad. The movie still is a great watch only and only for its first half.

With a take on relationships that starts off as modern, but cops-out; it’s the humour and performances that are worth savouring. Guess that would even the scales for a just about decent watch.

The problem though is that they try to inject it with humor using an exaggerated dose of hyperbole – only to end up flat on its face. Worse yet, you have seen almost all the quippy one-liners in the trailers. Other than a couple of witticisms in the first 15-20 minutes, there is hardly any new material that makes you laugh later in the film.

…displays massive potential, but never quite manages to live up to it (This year’s Shuddh Desi Romance?). It tries to be too many things at once – a slice-of-life comedy, a tearjerker, commentary on marriage – without really managing to nail any one of them. At best, it’s a good half time watch.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than watching a promising film dissipate within the acid of its own intentions. That I still don’t doubt its crowd-pleasing roots is a testament to the actors involved, despite the one unforgiveable behavioral flaw: A football fan that puts his wife, job and kids ABOVE the game?