Vibe Public Talk: Expected Better After Madgaon Express?

Vibe gets mixed early reactions

Vibe has received a below average response from early viewers, with the comedy and performances doing most of the heavy lifting. The film stars Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava, Preity Zinta and Vanshika Dhir and was released in theatres on September 18.

The story follows two unlikely friends, Hardik and Bugs, who are pulled into a dangerous mission despite having no obvious qualifications for it.

The biggest talking point is the pairing of Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava. Viewers have particularly enjoyed the contrast between Kunal’s carefree, clueless character and Sparsh’s more disciplined personality.

People are talking about how their chemistry, comic timing, quirky action and pop-culture references make the first half the film’s strongest stretch. Kunal has also been praised for handling acting, writing and direction. Many found his comedy effortless and the tone light and enjoyable.

However, the second half is where the enthusiasm drops. Multiple reactions point to stretched writing, inconsistent humour, predictable turn. Most people were disappointed with the climax that fails to deliver the same energy as the beginning. Some viewers have also criticised the editing and direction. Preity Zinta’s casting and performance have received mixed responses.

Many are of the opinion that she has lost the touch in acting that she had in her earlier films. So far, Vibe appears to be a film viewers enjoy more for its characters, comedy and energy in the first half than for the complete package. The Kunal-Sparsh chemistry clearly stands out, but the uneven second half is keeping the film from getting a uniformly strong response.