Bad Newz review: Vicky Kaushal and Ammy Virk's chemistry works, rest of the things don't

New Delhi

Nothing is subtle about Anand Tiwari's latest film Bad Newz. Starring Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, and Ammy Virk. Bad Newz has been billed as a romantic comedy where makers seem to have adapted the old Bollywood formula- common in David Dhawan films- to make it an over-the-top story about two dads and one mom gearing up for the birth of twins.  Since it tackles a rare medical condition, it is perhaps a clever idea to envelope it with comedy and Vicky Kaushal singlehandedly takes this 2 hour 22 minutes long film forward with his West Delhi Punjabi boy act. But is Kaushal alone, enough to make this film work? Let's find out.

The story, as shown in the trailer, is one of a kind. Head Chef at a plus restaurant in a luxury hotel in Mussoorie, Saloni Bagga (Dimri) dreams of earning the coveted Meraki Star for her culinary skills. A dream so precious and one that she has harboured since childhood, Saloni has moved to the hilly town after divorcing Akhil Chaddha (Vicky Kaushal)- a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. Akhil and Saloni have had Bollywood style meet-cute, but six months into their marriage, Saloni realizes that Akhil's love is nauseating and that his obsession with his mom is a hindrance in her professional career. 

In Mussorie she meets Gurbir (Virk), a sauve, calm Hotelier who is just the opposite of Akhil's over-the-top personality. Sparks fly between the two immediately and on a drunk night, they end up sleeping together. Saloni, however, also sleeps with her ex-husband the same night, who's come to rekindle his love. She gets pregnant and the doctor declares that both the men are the fathers. It is a rather rare medical condition- called heteropaternal superfecundation- in which two different eggs are fertilized in the ovary of a woman with sperm from two different men. 

The situation, naturally, leads to a case of upmanship between Akhil and Gurbir who both compete for Saloni's attention. But who would she choose as her life partner? 

The writing and screenplay

Written by Tarun Dudeja and Ishita Moitra (who has also written the dialogues) Bad Newz starts off interestingly. Most of the quirks of Akhil Chadha are funny and Kaushal ably plays the typical West Delhi Punjabi boy to the hilt. The first half provides genuine laughs- more so because of Kaushal's buffoonery. Virk and Kaushal play characters as different as chalk and cheese but they together light up the screen. They are competing against each other for Dimri's affection and attention and their scenes are crackling with some witty dialogues. 

The film is also very Meta and takes digs at almost everyone. From Kabir Singh to Vicky's film Manmarziyaan to the film's produced by Karan Johar-there are multiple references to current films which is mostly fun. 

The second half

While the first half and the beginning of the second half are fun and breezy thanks to the two men, specially Kaushal, the writing and the execution muddles up near the climax. It becomes slightly predictable and unnecessarily dramatic. Touted as a comedy, the serious turn of the narrative seems hastily put together with several loose ends never really answered or addressed. 

The chemistry between Vicky and Ammy

I found the chemistry between Vicky and Ammy more interesting than what they shared with Dimri. Dimri is a fantastic actress and has proved her talent in films like Bulbbul, Qala, and Laila Majnu. She became a national sensation with her sensuous avatar in last year's blockbuster Animal. While Bad Newz was shot before Animal was released, somehow Dimri's overtly glamourised avatar in the film seems like an extension of the image she has created in the last year post Animal's success. The film talks of ambitious women, single mothers but only fleetingly and so Tripti's scope of performing is also limited. She looks hot, no doubt but nothing more than that. 

Virk delivers funny dialogues in his quintessential deadpan style and the scene where he and Dimri end up having sex is performed so well by the actor that one can't help but laugh out loud. 

The film belongs to Kaushal who lights up the screen with his over-the-top, Punjabi mama's boy act. Akhil Chaddha seems to have written the script for Kaushal and he alevates the predictable, OTT rom-com with his swagger and performance. 

One of the most annoying aspects of Bad Newz is that it spells out everything for the audience in an exaggerated manner. Every time Vicky comes on screen, a background chorus sings 'Akhil Chadha Satto Vadda', then when two characters are following a third character down a shady street, someone in the background croons 'Follow Me'. When Akhil's maternal uncle is introduced to the audience, someone in the background sings out loud 'Mama' (maternal uncle in Hindi) and when Akhil, loses his phone, someone sings 'Phone Gayab'. I haven't experienced that level of spoon-feeding since my kindergarten days! Why is everything spelt out like this?!

Bad Newz is good news for Vicky Kaushal fans- who are in plenty, especially after his Tauba Tauba glow-up. Kaushal takes a predictable, slightly messy narrative forward with his comic act, and that makes Bad Newz a good (predictable) watch.