This is how the story goes: Sid (Akhtar) and Trisha (Balan) are happily married to each other. Career-oriented and fun-loving, this couple knows how to keep the magic of marriage alive. Well, not for very long, we soon learn. After the two discover that Trisha is pregnant—an unplanned, unforeseen, unwanted turn of events—and choose to have the baby after much deliberation, we find Sid coping with his lack of preparedness. While Trisha seems happy with the prospects of parenthood, Sid is, in no way, ready for the same; not financially and not emotionally. The couple’s life changes when their little daughter arrives. From a totally-in-love-with-each-other couple, Trisha and Sid turn into parents who have practically nothing to talk to each other about, if it does not concern their daughter, Millie.

There is nothing particularly original about the film. But it has some sort of tautness to keep you engaged. That the first half of the film is thoroughly enjoyable is its biggest plus point. Also, the character sketches are pretty interesting. The director has managed to find the perfect fit, in terms of the actors, for his characters.  In terms of performances, Akhtar is quite believable in his portrayal of Sid, a confused, insecure and yet loving husband. He plays a struggling musician and he pulls off his character pretty well. He is in almost every scene of the film and doesn’t bore you even then. Balan herself is a pleasure to watch as her character transforms from a young, carefree wife to a doting mother. The actors’ chemistry is both unusual and effective. And the supporting cast—which includes names Ram Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri and Vir Das—are good as well. Thought they don’t have much to do on screen, they all put in earnest performances in the film.

What the Shaadi Ke Side Effects lacks, unfortunately, is consistency in terms of storyline and screenplay. Towards the climax, the film seems so stretched you might want it to end as soon as possible. The things playing out on screen are obvious, even everyday affairs, and should have been relatable to a great extent, but the way the events have been treated is very unconvincing. And though the songs might have worked well as an independent audio album, they feel quite unnecessary in the film.

Every film has its hits and misses. In the context of this one, there are more hits than misses. But sadly, although the film’s flaws are not too many, they are those that tend to impact the audience the most. It is unfortunate that the film loses its plot within its various sub-plots. Otherwise, Shaadi Ke Side Effects would have been a total entertainer.