{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Vibe Review (2026): Kunal Kemmu's Comedy Thriller Loses Its Rhythm After Interval",
  "summary": "Kunal Kemmu's second directorial feature Vibe delivers solid laughs and kinetic buddy chemistry early on, but collapses under bloated plotting and tone shifts after the interval.",
  "content": "A detailed assessment of the new Hindi theatrical release unfolds in this 'Vibe review', exploring how a spirited buddy action vehicle gradually squanders its early momentum. Stepping into the director's chair for his second feature film, Kunal Kemmu attempts an ambitious blend of action, espionage thrill, male camaraderie, national pride, and situational comedy. Fronted by Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Preity Zinta, the cinematic outing captures viewer attention right away with rapid-fire dialogue delivery and well-timed humour. However, the post-interval stretch suffers from a muddled narrative arc and an increasingly sluggish screenplay, reducing what could have been a sharp entertainer into an ordinary thriller comedy.\n\nThe Core Premise and an Accidental Security Crisis\nThe story centers entirely around Hardik, played by Kunal Kemmu, who is stepping out of a rehabilitation facility with hopes of rebuilding his life from the ground up. Standing firmly beside him is his childhood confidant Bhagirath, popularly known as Bugs, portrayed by Sparsh Shrivastava. Through Bugs' initiative and connections, Hardik secures an employment opportunity within an IT company, giving the impression that stability is finally within reach. The plot takes a sharp turn when an imminent, large-scale terrorist attack threatens national security. Through a series of bizarre coincidences, Hardik and Bugs find themselves trapped right in the crosshairs of this crisis.\n\nThis critical juncture introduces Madam H, essayed by Preity Zinta, under whose clandestine authority the two young men are drafted into a covert, life-threatening security operation. Up until the intermission, the storyline moves forward in a delightfully breezy, engaging manner. The natural banter between the two protagonists, clever situational comic beats, and lighthearted tension keep the audience thoroughly invested in the unfolding drama. Unfortunately, the second half of the movie fails completely to sustain that brisk pace and magnetic energy, drifting into tonal inconsistency.\n\nCast Performances and On-Screen Chemistry\nOn the acting front, Kunal Kemmu reiterates his standing as one of Hindi cinema's most underrated yet dependable performers. Whether navigating comic timing, dramatic urgency, action sequences, or emotional vulnerability, Kemmu delivers an absolute hundred percent commitment to his character. Crucially, despite serving as both director and top-billed star, he ensures ample room for his co-stars to shine brightly. Sparsh Shrivastava, recognized for his notable work in 'Missing Ladies', delivers a standout performance as Bugs. The genuine camaraderie and comedic rhythm shared between Kunal and Sparsh serve as the single biggest strength of the entire production.\n\nNewcomer Vanshika Dheer, who portrays Kareena, carries herself with impressive poise and makes an impact as a promising debut talent. Conversely, Preity Zinta's screen comeback in the role of Madam H proves to be a major letdown. Her performance across several dramatic sequences feels overly loud and uncomfortably artificial, clashing with the broader aesthetic. Bhojpuri star Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua' and seasoned actor Yashpal Sharma do complete justice to their allocated screen time. The film also sprinkles in a few entertaining surprise cameos that provide momentary sparks of amusement.\n\nDirectorial Ambition Undone by Flawed Writing\nAs a filmmaker, Kunal Kemmu possesses a sharp grasp of mainstream Indian commercial cinematic tropes. He pulls no punches when it comes to packing the canvas with explosive action, patriotic fervor, heightened drama, and slapstick elements. Yet, the Achilles' heel of the entire endeavor remains its writing. While the first half balances laughter and suspense with effortless charm, the comedy abruptly vanishes the moment the second half commences. Sequences are dragged out unnecessarily, and the rush toward the climax packs in so many overlapping plotlines that the film begins to resemble a cluttered mess, taking focus away from its core appeal.\n\nTechnical Aspects: Cinematography and Soundscape\nFrom a technical standpoint, the visual execution aligns neatly with the vibrant ambitions of a commercial Bollywood product. Action choreography is mounted on an expansive scale and shot with fluid dynamism. The visual contrast between corporate cubicle culture and high-stakes covert action sequences remains crisp and aesthetically pleasing. Thoughtful illumination and lively color palettes help sustain a trendy, upbeat mood throughout. Visually, the production consistently meets expectations.\n\nThe musical score offers decent utility without reaching truly memorable heights. Even so, the title track 'Vibe' proves extremely catchy, staying in the viewer's memory long after walking out of the cinema hall. The track successfully encapsulates the restless youthful vitality central to the film's identity. The background score adds required punch to combat and comedic sequences, though the full soundtrack album deserved a more inventive selection of melodies.\n\nMajor Drawbacks and Critical Verdict\nSeveral glaring structural flaws prevent this release from graduating into an exceptional thriller comedy\n\n• Lagging Second Half: Following the intermission mark, the narrative loses its clear focus as the screenplay becomes noticeably slack.\n• Vanishing Comedy: The narrative adopts an overly serious and convoluted tone in its latter half, causing the genuine situational laughs of the opening stretch to disappear entirely.\n• Over-the-Top Characterization: Preity Zinta's role is poorly written, resulting in a performance that comes across as exaggerated and unnatural.\n• Messy Climax: The final act attempts to cram patriotism, revenge, and espionage tension into a single resolution, diluting its emotional and dramatic impact.\n\n'Vibe' stands as a movie that delivers entertainment only in scattered fragments. For those planning a theatrical trip, the spirited first half and the dynamic pairing of Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava will certainly provide plenty of laughs. However, an uninspired second half and unbalanced writing spoil the overarching fun. Skipping this release means missing out on an enjoyable opening act, but certainly not a cinematic triumph. The film receives a rating of 2 stars out of 5.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis critical breakdown offers practical clarity for prospective moviegoers looking to evaluate their ticket investments and weekend schedules.\n\n• For Comedy Enthusiasts: Viewers who appreciate Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava's comedic chemistry will find genuine entertainment throughout the first half. Even so, weigh your theater expenses carefully knowing the story takes a steep downturn after the break.\n• For Streaming Audiences: Skipping the box office run and waiting for its OTT release represents the smarter financial choice. Watching it at home will allow viewers to skim past the dragged out and convoluted second half at their own convenience.\n• For Preity Zinta Fans: Audiences eagerly tracking the actress's theatrical comeback should temper expectations substantially before booking tickets. Her poorly sketched character arc offers limited screen satisfaction for dedicated followers.\n• For Weekend Planners: Friends seeking casual entertainment can still enjoy the opening banter and catchy title track during an outing. Just be prepared for an uneven narrative that fails to deliver a memorable or cohesive payoff.\n\nWhy this happened\nDespite establishing strong initial momentum, the cinematic venture failed to coalesce into a cohesive entertainer due to critical narrative missteps.\n\n• Screenplay Imbalance: The core weakness lies in the disjointed writing that fails to bridge both halves of the film. The effortless comedic rhythm built prior to the interval completely dissolves as the script plunges into a serious, dragged-out investigative thread.\n• Tonal Congestion: The directorial approach attempted to bundle buddy comedy, counter-terrorism, high-octane action, patriotic sentiment, and personal vengeance into a single package. Juggling so many conflicting tones simultaneously fractured the narrative focus and diluted the climactic tension.\n• Superficial Character Arc: The pivotal role of Madam H lacked nuanced development and suffered from exaggerated dialogue staging. This structural defect forced seasoned performer Preity Zinta into an overly theatrical register that felt distinctly out of place.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Is Vibe worth watching in theaters?\nThe film is worth watching primarily for the opening half and the camaraderie between Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava, but a sluggish second half keeps it from being essential viewing.\n\n2. Who directed the movie Vibe?\nThe movie is directed by Kunal Kemmu, marking his second directorial project in mainstream Hindi cinema.\n\n3. Who are the lead actors in Vibe?\nThe movie features Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava, Preity Zinta, Vanshika Dheer, Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua', and Yashpal Sharma in prominent roles.\n\n4. How is Preity Zinta's comeback performance in the film?\nPreity Zinta's portrayal of Madam H turns out to be underwhelming, as her performance across several scenes comes across as exaggerated and unnatural.\n\n5. What star rating did Vibe receive in this review?\nTaking into account its sharp first half and disappointing post-interval decline, the film received a rating of 2 stars out of 5.\n\n6. Which movies are like Vibe?\nAudiences looking for situational comedy paired with unconventional situations may explore Kunal Kemmu's earlier comedic works or Sparsh Shrivastava's project 'Missing Ladies'.\n\nReview\nTitle: Vibe\nRating: 2/5\nDirector: Kunal Kemmu\nStarring: Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava, Preity Zinta, Vanshika Dheer, Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, Yashpal Sharma\nGenre: Comedy Thriller\nDuration: 145 मिनट",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/movie-review/vibe-review-2026-kunal-kemmu-aura-sparsh-shrivastava-ki-majedara-kemistri-ke-bavajuda-kamajora-skrinaple-se-bikhari-philma-37827",
  "category": "Movie Reviews",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-24",
  "tags": [
    "Vibe Movie Review",
    "Kunal Kemmu",
    "Sparsh Shrivastava",
    "Preity Zinta",
    "Bollywood Thriller Comedy",
    "Hindi Cinema",
    "Film Review"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}