Chaotic & Funny, With A Murder Mystery. Review on Housefull 5

I have always been a fan of the Housefull franchise since the launch of their first movie. 15 years and 4 movies later, we are here with the original starcast back in the action. This time, it was something different. It wasn’t just pure comedy from beginning to end, but a who-dunnit murder mystery which adds extra spice to the narrative. It was an entertaining blend of comedy and thrill. There are lots of misunderstandings and funny moments that kept me laughing throughout. As the movie has two different endings, I watched the A part this weekend, and honestly, it did not disappoint.

Director Tarun Mansukhani utilizes all the characters to the best of their potential, which makes the story worth-watching. The story is set entirely on a luxury cruise ship, where a billionaire named Ranjeet Dobriyal celebrates his 100th birthday but suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances. Before his death, he announces that his vast fortune will go to his heir named Jolly. The twist? There are three men- Julius (Akshay Kumar), Jalabuddin (Riteish Deshmukh), and Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan), all claiming to be Jolly. This not only sets stage for an epic tussle between the three but also raises suspicion on who killed Ranjeet.

The movie does the job well to combine comedy with murder mystery. Earlier Housefull movies were more laid-back and enjoyable. However, this one keeps you guessing what could be the end. We never know who’s the killer and what would be the consequences if he is found. The police officers Baba (Jackie Shroff) and Bhidu (Sanjay Dutt) bring a fun crime-investigation angle, and their interactions add to the humor and suspense. Even Nana Patekar’s role is nice. I feel these veteran actors should have been given more screen time and were underutilized. Anyways, the lead actors give terrific performances, just like the previous movies.

Akshay Kumar’s comic timing is as sharp as ever, and he carries the film with his energy. Abhishek and Ritiesh are evergreen comedy actors and support the narrative well. Even the female leads Jacqueline Fernandes, Sonam Bajwa, and co. have more significant roles. The only thing I felt could have been better was the screenplay and dialogues. The script is poorly written and a lot of jokes are below the belt, not suitable for kids. A lot of times, the jokes feel forced and predictable. It is the comic timing of actors like Akshay and Ritiesh which saves the movie.

All-in-all, it was a fun movie to watch on the weekends, and the theatres were packed. The Housefull series has always delivered and yes, it might not be on par to the first two movies, Housefull 5 is much better than the previous two movies. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, entertaining movie with lots of laughs and colorful visuals, Housefull 5 - A is definitely worth watching. I loved the ending in the A part and the killer was really hard to guess. I am now also excited to see another version.