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‘Housefull 5’ stumbles onto screens fifteen years after the original, laden with the familiar baggage of its predecessors: an ensemble cast bursting at the seams, sets designed to overwhelm, and a storyline so convoluted it defies comprehension. Director Tarun Mansukhani attempts to inject life into this slapstick comedy, but the result is a cinematic shipwreck, a colossal waste of resources that leaves audiences questioning their life choices. The film’s unusual narrative twist – the revelation of the killer and the climax varying depending on the viewing choice – is a desperate attempt to mask the fundamental flaws that plague the entire production. Regardless of the narrative path chosen, the ultimate destination is the same: a painful cinematic experience that fails to deliver on its comedic promises. The ‘Housefull’ franchise, known for its chaotic humor, reaches new heights of absurdity in this fifth installment. It’s louder, glossier, and crammed with an even more extensive cast than ever before. While the female characters are largely forgettable and blend into the background, the male leads are impossible to ignore, a veritable who's who of Bollywood comedy veterans and newcomers. Familiar faces like Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Chunky Panday (as the perpetually amusing Aakhri Pasta), Johnny Lever (as Batuk Patel), and Ranjeet reprise their roles, joined by fresh additions such as Fardeen Khan, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Abhishek Bachchan (returning after his appearance in ‘Housefull 3’), and Sanjay Dutt. The sheer number of actors jostling for screen time becomes a significant problem, contributing to the film's overall sense of disarray.
Taking the directorial reins, Mansukhani attempts to steer the film into even wilder territory, based on a story conceived by producer Sajid Nadiadwala and co-written by Farhad Samji. However, instead of charting a course toward comedic brilliance, the film veers wildly off course, plunging into a chaotic abyss of confusion, a scattershot script, and cheap thrills that exploit the scantily clad female characters. The narrative juggles a dizzying array of mistaken identities and a murder mystery, all set against the backdrop of a luxurious cruise ship where the millionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal (played by Ranjeet) is celebrating his birthday. The celebration takes a dark turn when Ranjeet unexpectedly passes away, and his will reveals Jolly, his son from his first wife, as his sole heir. This revelation sends shockwaves through Ranjeet's board of directors and his son Dev (played by Fardeen Khan), who is from his second marriage. As they await the arrival of the mysterious Jolly, three men emerge, each claiming to be the rightful heir. This sets off a chain reaction of insecurities and suspicions, particularly for Dev, who fears being disinherited. The situation is further complicated by the odd behavior of the board members, played by Chitrangada Singh, Shreyas Talpade, and Dino Morea. Amidst this chaos, the film introduces a clumsy lawyer (played by Soundarya Sharma), dressed more for a beach party than a courtroom, the ship's supersized captain (played by Nikitin Dheer), and the three impostor Jollys, each accompanied by their respective foreign wives: Jalabuddin (played by Deshmukh) with Zara (played by Sonam Bajwa), Jalbhushan (played by Bachchan) with Sasikala (played by Jacqueline Fernandez), and Julius (played by Kumar) with Kaanchi (played by Nargis Fakhri).
As the film progresses, a series of mysterious murders occur on the cruise ship, adding another layer of complexity to the already convoluted plot. Enter bumbling cops Baba (played by Jackie Shroff) and Bhidu (played by Sanjay Dutt), who arrive to investigate the crimes, followed by Nana Patekar, who makes a cameo appearance as a dhoti-wearing super-cop sporting sneakers. The film's relentless pursuit of chaos is briefly interrupted by large, colorful song-and-dance numbers, which attempt to distract the audience from the nonsensical plot. While a few tracks, particularly “Laal Pari” and Patekar’s “The Phoogdi Dance” Marathi house music remix with Kratex, manage to inject a brief burst of energy into the proceedings, they are ultimately insufficient to salvage the film's overall mediocrity. The cast, as the title suggests, is indeed a full house, but the sheer number of actors only exacerbates the film's problems. Akshay Kumar attempts to inject his trademark comic charm into the role, and Riteish Deshmukh delivers his usual reliable performance with what feels like reheated material. However, the newer additions to the cast barely make an impact, and with such a bloated ensemble, no one truly gets the opportunity to shine, especially the women, who are relegated to largely ornamental roles. The glaring lack of chemistry among the actors further contributes to the film's hollowness, leaving the audience with a sense of emptiness and disappointment. 'Housefull 5' ultimately fails to live up to the expectations of its predecessors, delivering a chaotic and ultimately unsatisfying cinematic experience.