Haven’t we seen the runaway bride story countless times before? Often it captivates us, although sometimes it leaves us unimpressed. So, here comes Happy Bhag Jayegi. Will this one turn out to be a worthwhile watch? Let’s find out in the Happy Bhag Jayegi film review.
Happy Bhag Jayegi Film Review – The Story
Happy, a gutsy girl, sets off in a truck on her wedding day. Only, it is the wrong one. She lands up at the Ahmed’s in Lahore. An Indian girl on the run in Pakistan is good enough to ruffle a few feathers. Bilal Ahmed, an obedient son, who has sacrificed his passion at the altar of his father’s vision of seeing him as the next Jinnah, is one of them.
Now, having to deal with Happy, Bilal has more than he could have asked. For once, Bilal is going to have to go with his heart and help this girl unite with her true love, Guddu. However, he has first to contend with Bagga, who, once being ditched by Happy, is out to get her at all costs. Along the way, his friend, ACP Afridi will be an invaluable aid in tracking down Guddu and dealing with Bagga. Also, Bilal’s fiancee, Zoya will support him through his journey.
Happy Bhag Jayegi Film Review – The Negatives
Scenes with Diana Penty and Abhay Deol mostly fall flat. And, although, Diana Penty is no Kangana Ranaut, there aren’t quite as many memorable scenes as you would have liked that owe their credit to her performance. Diana Penty’s Happy is seen chattering away for much of the first half of the film that doesn’t resonate well on screen. Abhay Deol’s performance as Bilal, while nuanced, fails to evoke much laughter either. To top it all, the ending of the film is somewhat of an anticlimax.
Happy Bhag Jayegi Film Review – The Positives
Piyush Pandey playing the rather amusing ACP Afridi and Jimmy Shergill as the baddie Bagga are the brighter spots in this otherwise middling fare. Between the two, they have some funny scenes that rev up the hilarity quotient of the film. Ali Fazal as Guddu punches above his weight with a measured performance. Momal Sheikh revels in the role as Abhay Deol’s fiancee. And, although, the screenplay falters at times, it picks up the pace at key moments so as to never let you switch off completely. I can’t complain much about the songs, which, while not remarkable, aren’t distracting either.
The Final Word
My main grouse with Happy Bhag Jayegi is concerning Diana Penty. Playing the titular role, she had to be all guns blazing for the movie to hit the mark. Sadly, she fails to tickle your funny bone. In spite of that, Happy Bhag Jayegi is a decent one time watch. Although, I am left pondering whether another actress would have done better justice to Happy’s role.
Stars: 2.75/5.0
What do you think?