Critics' report: Momal Sheikh's 'Happy Bhag Jayegi' opens to mixed reviews

Abhay Deol, Diana Penty starrer is barred from releasing in Pakistan today

Momal Sheikh's Bollywood debut may have faced a last-minute roadblock in Pakistan but the cross-border romantic comedy has opened to mixed reviews in India.

Starring Momal (Zoya), Abhay Deol (Bilal Ahmed), Diana Penty (Happy), Jimmy Shergill (Daman Singh Bagga) and Ali Fazal (Guddu) in key roles, Happy Bhag Jayegi is a story of a girl named Happy who accidentally ends up in Pakistan.

PHOTO: BOLLYSPICE



Here's what the critics have to say about the Mudassar Aziz directorial.

The Indian Express

A comedy that loses the plot. Happy Bhag Jayegi is good for a few laughs but then falls victim to weak writing and never realises its full potential.

It could have been a rollicking comedy. But despite its occasional throwaway lines, and nice touches, it never comes together.

In fact, the film has several striking resemblances to Tanu Weds Manu, which makes sense because Happy Bhag Jayegi is an Anand L Rai production too.

Good to see Abhay Deol back in the groove and the very pretty very swish-in-her-designer-threads Momal Sheikh gives him something to work on.

SCREENGRAB

Firstpost

Happy Bhag Jayegi is hilarious at a superficial level and Diana is brimming with potential but her Happy, despite being the titular protagonist, is the most under-written character in the entire story. So ultimately what we are left with is a film filled with laughter up to a point but completely lacking depth. The film’s limited writing is its failing.

Oddly enough, Bilal’s character is far better explored in the screenplay. In fact, at some point this becomes more a film about Bilal and Zoya than about Happy and Guddu. Perhaps a more appropriate title could have been Kya Bilal Happy Ke Saath Bhag Jayega?

Happy Bhag Jayegi is fun and funny in large parts, but the second half is also bogged down by how insubstantial and consequently forgettable it is.

PHOTO: FILMFARE



NDTV

A wedding scuttled, a suitor snubbed and a bride on the run are time-tested ingredients of a comic romp. Happy Bhag Jayegi has all this and more and yet is only mildly diverting when it isn't overly desultory. It falls short of being a side-splitting laugh riot because Mudassar Aziz does not make happy use of the narrative pieces available to him consistently enough to be able to deliver an outright winner.

But Happy Bhag Jayegi, which delivers harmless fun for the most part in spite of the patchy screenplay, is marked by elements that set it apart from run-of-the-mill Bollywood rom-coms.

Happy Bhag Jayegi whips up a steady rhythm in the first half only to lose its way a bit in the second. It isn't the kind of film that will have audiences rolling in the aisles. But it might occasionally induce faint smiles on some faces.

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India Today

Other than a big cliche and a tool to set up comic situations throughout the two-hour long film, Happy has no other point. As such, why the film is named Happy Bhag Jayegi is a mystery because this film totally belongs to its very competent supporting cast.

The film works totally because of its actors. It is one comic set-up after another with an overused plot-line that really doesn't offer any possibilities of surprise. As such, the ensemble cast comes to the rescue.

Happy Bhag Jayegi is an inoffensive family entertainer. If you don't like your history with flying crocodiles or with patriotism forced down the throat, this inconspicuous film might appeal to you.

SCREENGRAB

Momal reveals dad Javed Sheikh didn’t recommend her to Happy Bhaag Jayegi makers

Meanwhile in Pakistan, Happy Bhag Jayegi is barred from releasing today.

The Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) could not reach a unanimous decision over the fate of the film due to technical differences between the board members. To sort it out, as per the regular proceedings of the board, a full-board was called to review the film.