“Shaandaar” has good locations, jazzy dance numbers and lots of glitz and shine, but if you break down the surface, what stands exposed is its completely vacant centre. It would be funny if it wasn’t such a tragic waste of talent.

Vikas Bahl should’ve done better with Shaandaar. The biggest mistake he makes is to not trust his actors. In scenes where he opts for animation, he should’ve just let Pankaj Kapur and Alia Bhatt do the magic. But he doesn’t. He chooses to rely on cheap frills. And no matter how much money you spend padding up gimmicks, they don’t work like the real thing.

Shaandaar isn’t entirely unbearable — at least it saves itself from descending to Welcome Back-level garbage status courtesy a few performances.

While the theme evidently lacks novelty, it was intriguing to see how director Vikas Bahl, who showcased glimpses of wedding fun in his spectacular ‘Queen’, pitched his second innings on a desi destination wedding.

With all this against them, it’s to the cast’s credit that Shaandaar isn’t unwatchable. Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt look gorgeous and do their best to keep you entertained with their easy delivery and sharp dance moves. However, the two are entirely unconvincing as a couple, unless love in 21st century India is made up of chaste distances and inane chatter.

Shaandaar is an entertaining film and will be loved by the youth, especially in the cities. It will emerge amply victorious at the box-office on the strength of youth patronage. Business in the good multiplexes will be excellent but that in the lesser multiplexes and less-maintained single-screen cinemas will be below the mark.

Sweet in parts, silly in parts- this film is exactly what the doctor ordered this festive season. A reminder that everyone- gay guys, street-smart orphans, illegitimate children, diffident men and fat girls- can get a happy ending. At least in films!

For two hours, Shaandaar strains to entertain, throwing everything from animation to skydiving at the audience. Then, with around 20 minutes to go, Bahl seems to let go of the reins and everything careens out of control. The film ends on such a vague and uninspiring note, it feels like the director himself gave up on it.

Unlike Queen, it doesn’t feel like a take-off from a lived reality. There are some honest moments between JJ and Alia and Alia and her father that make you go gooey but for rest of the time it floats between generic and farcical.

The 146-minute movie proceeds in a jerky and slapdash fashion, and only a few sequences hit the mark. Most of the comedy seems to be in the form of one big private joke that does not travel beyond the borders of the set.