'Vibe' Review, Kunal Kemmu's Zany Comedy Is A Fun Ride Until Super Serum Makes Things Complicated
'Vibe' has finally been released in theatres on September 18, 2026. Kunal Kemmu and Preity Zinta-starrer has been making headlines for a while now.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleVIBE has been making headlines ever since the trailer for the film was released. However, for many, the trailer might have felt like déjà vu, and that's because the film takes inspiration from James Franco and Seth Rogen's 2014 film The Interview. To an extent, though, because Kunal Kemmu, who wrote and directed the film, brings his own taste to the story.
What is Kunal Kemmu's VIBE about?
The plot of VIBE revolves around 'Hardik' (Kunal Kemmu), who has just returned from drug rehab. However, things take a turn when his friend 'Bugs' (Sparsh Shrivastava) insists that he join his tech company and get his life back on track. Nonetheless, instead of following the steps to rehabilitate himself slowly into society, 'Hardik' soon spots a company intern, 'Kareena' (Vanshika Dhir), and falls head over heels for her. Despite 'Bugs's' warning, 'Hardik' asks 'Kareena' out on a date, and all hell breaks loose.
While that mess unfolds, 'Madam H' (Preity Zinta Goodenough) enters the picture, working for a government agency trying to capture a dreaded gangster. The rest of the plot follows how these two guys end up becoming part of 'Madam H's' plan. What works for VIBE is that it doesn't take itself too seriously from the start. Kunal even does the voiceover for the opening credits and explains what 'partners' and 'special thanks' really mean.
It's a fresh touch and sets the mood for what comes next. The first half of the film is a proper pain-in-the-belly laughter fest. The dialogues are mind-blowing, 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. However, things get a little tricky in the second half.
Following the interval, the film suddenly changes gears and the laughs begin to dry up. It almost feels like you've accidentally entered a different film on your way back from the popcorn station. To move the story forward, the plot gets unnecessarily complicated. The whole track about the underworld gangster's identity, followed by a super-strength serum, would have been super-cool if it hadn't taken the film into a different zone.
Kunal Kemmu looks dazzling in his core comedy role
Kunal Kemmu is perfect for those soft-comic roles, and he proved that with VIBE. He is effortlessly funny and keeps you invested even when the film starts to lose steam. Vanshika Dhir, as 'Kareena', is a delight to watch. However, while it was a decent debut, it wasn't a memorable role. Sparsh Shrivastava nailed 'Bugs' and complements Kunal's zany brand of comedy. Yashpal Sharma and Nirahua, as the two officers on 'Madam H's' team, also do justice to their roles.
Talking about 'Madam H', it's always a delight to see Preity Zinta Goodenough on screen. However, this time her performance feels peculiar. At times, it feels as though she is reading her lines off a teleprompter, or perhaps from a placard being held up just behind the camera. Her delivery has a mechanical quality that makes some scenes feel less natural than they should.
To conclude, VIBE starts off with exactly the kind of madness you'd want from it. Not too bothered about following the rules, has a key pair that works exceptionally well, and the first half provides some good laughs. However, it's the second half that adds too many layers and twists. Nonetheless, despite its few flaws, the film is a good laugh and a good vibe.
Are you excited to watch VIBE? Let us know.
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