Cirkus Review in one word is a big “Let-Down”. is packed with ridiculous mix-ups, mishaps, or blunders and in the end you are left with a big let-down. Rightfully, netizens after watching the movie called Cirkus “the worst movie ever”, others called it the “biggest letdown of 2022”.
Netizens have criticized the Cirkus by commenting on its below-average screenplay, cringe dialogues, and overhyped acting of the starcast. People have given a clear thumbs-down to the Ranveer Singh-starrer calling it “Unfunny”.
Two sets of orphaned identical twins, a doctor (Murli Sharma) who plays god and switches one for another in his quest to show that “parvarish” (upbringing) has a greater impact than “parivaar” (bloodlines), is just the kind of absurd premise that Shetty runs with, tossing out loud-talking characters, loud background music, and situations that are as slapstick as they can be.
Raised in Bangalore and Ooty, respectively, Roy and Joy are played by Ranveer Singh and Varun Sharma in dual roles. Following the passing of their father, one Roy and Joy take over the management of a circus, while the other Roy and Joy float about, waiting for their chance to join the gang. The Roy, who is the centre of attention at his cirkus, has a wife (Pooja Hegde); the other has a girlfriend (Jacqueline Fernandez); the latter has a loudmouth father (Sanjay Mishra), who frequently sets himself up to be smacked.
Cirkus Review: Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty vision falls flat
In the second half, Johnny Lever shows up in primary coloured velvet suits. Vrajesh Hirjee is a monkey-capped taxi-driver with slitted-eyes. An item number in which Ranveer rocks it with Deepika Padukone makes you wish for more from whence that came. But no, it’s back to slap-slap-slap. Then, of course, it’s time for that finale with everyone crowded in the same frame, where the ‘bichhade huey bhai’ are face to face, of course, and the ladies, who literally have nothing to do, swoon in shock.
The second half is more about supporting actors- Siddharth Jadhav’s Momo, a petty thief on the run, boards a train from Bangalore to Ooty. The Bangalore siblings are also travelling on the same train on business. Momo is in desperate need of money and plans to rob Roy of his cash. In a twist of fate, Roy goes into electric spasm right when Momo is about to unzip his bag. No prizes for guessing, Momo gets the shock — quite literally – of his life. Mohammed Rafi’s Badan Pe Sitare from Prince (1969) plays in the background to drive home Momo’s misery.
Cirkus adds melodies from the past
The Cirkus is loaded with a line up of old bollywood scores – Aao Twist Karein, Johnny Mera Naam, Badan Pe Sitare, Aa Jane Jaan, Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Tu Kya Jane O Bewafa which brings nostalgia. But is this needed? These are elements which Rohit Shetty made as filler, with a sense to keep the audience hooked to the film, but it does not take away the fact the movie is a big let-down.
In Cirkus, Jaqueline Fernandez plays a convincing role as Singh does; in some scenes, she might even be a little more lively. Singh is for the first time in his career both completely forgettable and overshadowed by co-stars.
And the film gets a chance to deliver a line about we-are-all-one, regardless of ‘dharm-and-jaati’, making up for a snide Mughal emperor crack right in the beginning.
The supporting comedy ensemble, led by Sanjay Mishra, tries to liven up Cirkus with their over-the-top antics maybe to make up for Singh’s seeming sleepwalking through his parts.
Halfway in, Singh seems to exit the plot and the supporting cast takes. More stupidity follows, as Shetty packs scene after scene with some of Hindi cinema’s most beloved comic actors, but not one punchline lands and the situational comedy is painfully humourless.
Rohit Shetty Cirkus has tried to stir emotions by touching taboos of the Indian society, child adoption and lineage. Despite a good story element, Cirkus has failed to impress the viewers who had high hopes from Rohit and Ranveer.