I was watching a movie after almost three months, did not want to waste my money by watching it in a multiplex as I was not expecting much from the movie and another reason I had not seen a movie in a single screen from long time, so I decided to give it a go. After seeing the loopholes in direction of Sajid Khan in Hey Baby I had the idea that he will not outperform in his next but expecting a little better performance from him. Housefull his latest movie promises loads of pure fun. Unfortunately, it’s not fun unlimited, the laughs are interspersed. Mainly because after a while, it brings on a feeling of deja vu - it’s the same kind of gags, and a very predictable storyline.
Akshay Kumar is the proverbial loser. he has no job, just when he is about to propose his girl, she walks out on him. Later, courtesy his best buddy Ritiesh, he gets married to Jiah, who rather spend the wedding night with her English boyfriend than her Indian husband.
Riteish Deshmukh is a card dealer in Randhir Kapoor’s (who is Jiah’s father) casino; he is wedded to Lara Dutta. Lara Dutta works in the same casino as a waitress.
Boman Irani is completely wasted. He should stop playing such B grade roles as he is a quality actor, this movie was just not matching his talent. He played Lara’s father staying in Gujarat, who is miffed because his daughter eloped to marry a commoner when he’d rather have her marry the Farsan King of Ahmedabad.
Deepika Padukone is beautiful damsel who saves Akshay Kumar and promptly falls in love with him.
Arjun Rampal is Deepika’s strict brother - head of the Indian Intelligence Department whose scrutiny Akshay has to pass.
The chaos begins when Boman Irani agrees to come to meet his daughter Lara who has told him a pack of lies having a big house and a son who has just mouthed the word "Nana." When he reaches their house he thinks Lara and Akshay are a couple; the duo have to carry this charade in front of the landlady Lillette Dubey, whose house they have rented for three days. So Lara and Akshay are paired off, Riteish becomes the cook and Deepika the nanny of their African kid (Akshay says the Afro genes have come from his grandmother’s side). To add to the chaos, Ramu (Arjun Rampal) also lands up to meet Deepika’s boyfriend and a new drama then unfolds with Boman Irani and Lillette Dubey also playing a part in it.
In between this "mistaken identity" charade are the proverbial gay jokes made so famous by Kal Ho Na Ho pair.
Housefull is not a laughathon. But it’s not without its funny moments. Even though the gags have been done to death before, you tend to laugh because of the split second timing of the actors. Askhay and Riteish are fantastic.The ladies provide the oomph factor; Jiah doesn’t impress with her act. Deepika is a surprise for she not only looks good; she also provides depth to her role by her acting.The girl is learning the ropes, and learning them good. The very talented Boman Irani and Lillette Dubey have been wasted for their track has not been developed well. Sajid Khan should have lent more meat to Boman’s character. Ramu is the gorgeous hunk who impresses; on the other hand Chunky Pandey simply grates on your nerves with his loud Italiano act.
The madcap comedy should have had a riproaring climax. Unfortunately the climax with the Nitrous Oxide effect at the Buckingham palace failed to tickle the funny bone. Along with top-notch performances By Akshay and RIteish, the cinematography by Vikas Sivaraman is fabulous. Sajid Khan had already stated that he is making a movie that will provide wholesome entertainment to the average cinema-goer and that Housefull if on the lines of any Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai film that were such a rage in the 70s.
But on the whole Housefull is a mixed bag that has its ups and downs and despite the "downs" does manage to entertain.