Of course, there was The Interview (2014), starring James Franco and Seth Rogen. The trailer for VIBE had me thinking, “I’ve seen something like this before. Two ordinary guys, picked by a government agency to carry out a dangerous mission. Sounds familiar? Remember the huge controversy around the film, given the political figure at the centre of its story? Anyway, I digress.
Kunal Kemmu , who writes and directs VIBE , is a unique talent. So, does VIBE work as well? Let’s find out. VIBE, right from its opening credits, seems like a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Kunal does a voiceover, explaining what ‘partners’ and ‘special thanks’ really mean in the context of film credits. It’s a neat touch, and sets you up nicely for what follows. And the first half is a laugh riot, happy to report. The dialogues, also written by Kunal, are terrific, with the one-liners landing consistently. The pace is spot on, and watching these two simpletons get caught up in a spy mission is great fun. Until the second half begins, that is. After the interval, the film suddenly changes gears and the laughs begin to dry up. VIBE almost feels like a different film for the rest of the runtime. In an attempt to move the story forward, the plot gets unnecessarily convoluted. The whole track about the identity of the underworld gangster, followed by a super strength serum, takes the film into a different zone. And in the process, it takes away from the uber-cool vibe that worked so well in the first half. Keeping the entire film together, of course, is Kunal Kemmu, as an actor too. He is effortlessly funny and manages to keep you invested even when the film begins to lose steam. Vanshika Dhir, as Kareena, looks beautiful on screen and makes a decent debut. Sparsh Shrivastava nails the part of Bugs and complements Kunal’s zany brand of comedy. Yashpal Sharma and Nirahua, as the two officers in Madam H’s team, pass the test. The music, with multiple guest composers and Amit Trivedi also in the mix, goes well with the film and does what it needs to. It fits the mood and fulfils the requirements.
The man is a good actor, and with Madgaon Express (2024), he showed that he can do a pretty good job behind the camera too.
The Verdict
There is enough wit and energy here to make you wish the film had stayed with its two bumbling heroes rather than getting lost in its own spy game. Overall, VIBE starts off with exactly the kind of madness you want from a film like this. It is funny and doesn’t seem too bothered about following the usual rules initially. Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava make for an entertaining pair, and the first half has enough laughs. It is in the second half that the film loses some of that easy charm, as the story starts adding layers and twists nobody really asked for. The result is a film that is at its best when it is simply VIBE-ing. Kunal has a knack for comedy, both in front of and behind the camera. He just needs to trust that instinct a little more.
