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Exit logic and enter slapstick entertainment once again. This comes from the master of comical flicks - David Dhawan. The name guarantees success, especially when it has the star power of more than a dozen recognizable faces and talents, besides four heroes, six heroines and four comedians and loads of eye candy beach babes and foreign locations. The spicy flavor looks enticing and enthralling, and it can hold viewers' interest for three hours plus. Unfortunately, the comical genius has missed the bus this time after delivering a bunch of comical and slapstick entertainers like 'Coolie No 1', 'Biwi No1', 'Hero No 1' and most recently released 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya'. After a couple of dry and dead weeks on box office there is a fresh whiff of air with a three-cornered tussle this week. David Dhawan's comical flick 'Shaadi No 1' will be locking horns with another comedy 'Garam Masala'. So, we have two greatest comical geniuses (Priyadarshan and David Dhawan) of our times flaunting their talents.

The competition gets meatier as the Priyadarshan tearjerker 'Kyon Ki' (Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer) is hitting marquee. The year started off on a dismal note with its first release 'Vaada' bombing at the box office. The bad luck continues for producer Vashu Bhagnani and Puja Films with the hot "n" happening comical flick 'Shaadi No 1' faltering. The promotional package for the film has been stupendous as the stars flashing themselves in TV serials like "Baa Bahoo Aur Baby" and "The Great Indian Comedy Show". If advertising campaign can garner success for any film then films like 'Mangal Pandey' could have been blockbusters. But unfortunately it was not and the same can be said for 'Shaadi No 1'. The promotional complimentary brochure of the film was attached with the latest issue of Filmfare to make it universally visible among movie buffs. Even that failed to capture audiences.

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The story of 'Shaadi No 1' is as simple as reciting nursery rhyme with every happening with the incidents sounding predictable. The film works on a thin plot with three most hot "n" happening urban guys Raj (Fardeen Khan), Aryan (Sharman Joshi) and Vir (Zayed Khan). Like dozens of Bollywood films this derives the names of the characters from the "feel good" factor films of Chopras and Johars. The film even ridiculed with this fact in the first half of the film! These guys are infuriated and disappointed with their married lives. Raj has lovable and faithful wife Bhavna (Ayesha Takia) who spends most of her time in prayers. She has the company of dumb and idiotic Pandit (Suresh Menon) who encourages her for spiritual work. Raj's marital desires remain unfulfilled and similarly this happens with Vir and Aryan.

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Vir has ambitious wife Diya (Esha Deol) who craves for stardom in the tinsel world. She is enticed by Masterji's (Raghuvir Yadav's) dreamy vision for a colorful and glamorous career in films. Vir faces the same circumstances and dreams for a happy married life. Aryan is married to intelligent lawyer Sonia (Soha Ali Khan). The busy schedule of Sonia makes Aryan's life miserable. One day these three guys plan to commit suicide but in bargain rescue wealthy businessman Kothari (Satish Shah) from committing suicide. That's weird but the director tries to make it hilarious. Kothari appoints them in his office and later plans to trick his spoilt daughters with their masculine charms. Kothari has three beautiful daughters - Rekha (Arti Chhabria), Madhuri (Riya Sen) and Dimple (Sophia). According to Kothari's plan, the three guys will have to woo his daughters and later deceive them.

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The plan will enable Kothari to choose grooms for his daughters. The plot thickens when the love chemistry between them ends with the marital status of these "much married men". Enter the friendly and dependable Lakhwinder Singh Lakha alias Lucky Bhaiya (Sanjay Dutt). This large- hearted gentleman happens to be benevolent toward Bhavna, Diya and Sonia. Lucky senses something fishy about Raj, Aryan and Vir. He even tries to explain this to their spouses but without success. In the climax, things get messed up and their "extra marital" deeds are exposed. The film ends on positive notes with couples living happily thereafter. The comedy film like this is supposed to be hilarious but it never looks entertaining at any juncture. The overdose of body shows and overstretched deadpan expressions of Fardeen and Zayed are boring. Sharman happens to be witty and humorous at places. Sanjay Dutt disappoints completely with his tiresome and aging looks. It will be advisable for him to age gracefully in roles that suit his persona.

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David Dhawan has been famous for his "No 1" titled films with Govinda, and later with Salman Khan with films like 'Judwaa', 'Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge' and 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya'. This time he has lampooned the concept of Indra Kumar's 'Masti' that was brilliantly rehashed in Boney Kapoor's 'No Entry'. The concept looked promising as the films made on similar grounds gained super success in the past. So, what went wrong? The comical timing completely misfired with the lead artistes failing to deliver. Dialogues by Milap Zhaveri are neither spicy nor gripping that can tickle funny bone.

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The witty situations require some frolicking dialogues but unfortunately there was hardly anything hilarious. Even the most trusted talents like those of Sanjay Dutt were wasted in preposterous characterization of "Lucky". The comical phrases he delivers are boring and sound like misfired missiles. The second generation of Khan Brothers (Fardeen and Zayed Khan) looks incompetent in this frolicking comedy. The underdog Sharman Joshi impresses despite his unimpressive looks and one could easily sense the emergence of actors like Ritesh Deshmukh. Ritesh has been brilliant in his comical make-up in 'Kya Kool Hai Hum' despite his lackluster charm. Star daughters (Esha Deol and Soha Ali Khan) have been used more as eye candy than anything else.

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Even the promising Ayesha Takia was reduced to singing and dancing in this "extra marital" love triangle. The other trio - Arti Chhabria, Riya Sen and debutante Sophia have been accommodated as desirable beach babes flaunting with their physical assets. Ironically, the four comedians - Satish Shah, Rajpal Yadav, Ali Asghar and Suresh Menon sound idiotic than funny. The most disappointing façade of this laugh riot happens to be Sanjay Dutt. The actor has been decimated for his poor characterization clubbed with insipid narration that kills the viewer's interest. The logic for slapstick comedies can be ignored but efficient and slick screenplay is must to make it hot and spicy. Despite this it has comical talents like Satish Shah and Rajpal Yadav. The director has failed to create anything monumental for them. It looks discouraging and shocking that director like David Dhawan has completely failed in the concept he has masterminded for years.

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Anu Malik's music is the other major factor that can be blamed for the film's dismal show. No single soundtrack can be spotted out as catchy that can ensure success for the film. The composer has been a success in the Bhatt camp but has disappointed here. Cinematography by Johnny Lal deserves all the accolades for capturing eye catching European locations. Choreography by Vaibhavi Merchant and Ganesh Acharya is another positive factor that thrills the audiences despite some ordinary soundtracks. Costumes are the major plus points with designers like Vikram Phadnis, Rocky S and Sanjeev Mulchandani delivering the needful.

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It may sound discouraging but it's true that after the recent Delhi bomb blasts this film happens to be another bad news for movie buffs and filmmakers. The producers can expect good opening because of the festive season but the film's success has to be relied on good mouth publicity. David Dhawan's much publicized comical venture 'Shaadi No 1' looks like a misfired and misguided missile. The viewers will be expecting something more innovative from this comical intellect next time.