The Housefull series has never billed anything less than outrageous comedy, big sets, and a glamorous cast with outlandish antics. Over the years, viewers have grown accustomed to outlandish behavior, mistaken identities, and an out-of-control plot full of situational humor. With Housefull 5, the filmmakers had a chance to up the ante—but did it pay off?
Housefull 5 Review: Comedy Meets Mystery
Staged on a swanky cruise liner, Housefull 5 starts on an opulent note—a flamboyant party to celebrate the 100th birthday of a rich British-Indian businessman, Ranjeet Dobriyal. But this party quickly takes a sinister turn as a masked murderer begins killing people, triggering a series of shocking events.
Three guys—Jalabuddin (Riteish Deshmukh), Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan), and Julius (Akshay Kumar)—all claim to be “Jolly,” the rightful heir to the tycoon’s fortune. Their girlfriends—played by Sonam Bajwa, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri—make things more confusing. The movie tries to mix mystery, comedy, and absurdity together, but is it successful in keeping the crowd entertained?
Performances: Stars Struggle to Shine
With such a humongous cast of industry stalwarts like Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Chunky Pandey, and Johnny Lever, power-packed performances are expected. In vain, the script fails to do justice to their acting skills.
Akshay Kumar: The Flagbearer of Madness
Akshay Kumar has always been the pillar of the Housefull franchise, bolstering the movies with his perfect sense of timing for comedy. In Housefull 5, he attempts to put some life in the lackluster storyline, but even his high-energy performance cannot salvage the movie from its lack of coherence in humor.
Riteish Deshmukh & Abhishek Bachchan: Comedic Chaos
Riteish Deshmukh, the franchise’s regular, brings warmth to his character, but his jokes lack punch because of the poor scripting. Abhishek Bachchan, who returned after the success of Housefull 3, suffers from forced wit and over-the-top reactions.
The Female Characters: Mere Eye Candy?
Bollywood comedies have traditionally marginalized their female leads, and unfortunately, Housefull 5 is no exception. Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, and Nargis Fakhri are presented with no character development, simply acting as props to elaborate song numbers and slapstick humor.
Humor & Script: Where It Falls Short
Comedy is the framework of the Housefull series, yet in this one, the comedies seem to be retreads and lackluster.
While the absurdity is to be expected in a Housefull movie, the gags go on for far too long, pushing the audience’s patience to the limit. What is intended as comedy is gradually transformed into tedious stretches of over-the-top dialogue and familiar one-liners.
A good Bollywood comedy relies on flawless timing, yet here, the timing is awry. The actors take longer to scream their lines than to provide actual moments of humor.
No Bollywood commercial entertainer would be complete without flashy dance numbers, but in Housefull 5, the songs seem more like a disruption than an addition. Rather than providing rhythm to the pace of the movie, they disrupt the already patchy narration.
Direction & Execution: Sajid Nadiadwala's Gamble
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, Housefull 5 has an identity crisis. Rather than streamlining the franchise formula, it goes all out on the mess, and the result is a jumbled mess of unplanned moments.
The initial half tries to establish the mystery, whereas the second half turns out to be absolute nonsense, pulling the audience into a strange realm of impostors, detectives, and ridiculous humor.
What Works?
In spite of the shortcomings, Housefull 5 has the following positive aspects:
Star Power: Having so many Bollywood stalwarts on one screen is a delight for hardcore fans.
Grand Visuals: The cruise ship locale adds sheen, making the movie a fashionable canvas.
Scattered Laughs: There are a few moments of actual comedy despite the mayhem.
Final Verdict: A Flimsy Attempt at Comedy
If you’re in the mood for a no-holds-barred entertainer where sense does not rule and nonsense is king, Housefull 5 may provide some infrequent chuckles. But if you’re looking for good storytelling and decent wordplay, this film might not be worth your money.
For fans of excessive Bollywood comedies, Housefull 5 is a good one-time watch. But for viewers looking for a crisp, new perspective on humor, this one barely fulfills.
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