Housefull
4, like its premise almost came back from the dead, when director Sajid Khan,
along with Nana Patekar (playing a vital role in the movie) had to leave the
project after facing serious allegations during the #MeToo movement, and writer-director
Farhad Samji took to direct the project in peril after directing the third
issue. The fifth Bollywood franchise to have a fourth installment after Raaz,
Hate Story, 1920 and Golmaal, Housefull 4 was pretty undesired by now, especially
after the very forgetful and horrible Housefull 3. But the movie was able to
garner at least some attention with its well-crafted trailers and fine posters,
so viewers around the country marched in theatres to find what Akshay Kumar
& Co. had to offer this time around this Diwali. The plot revolves around 3
couples, who are about to get married, until one individual realize that they
are all reincarnations from 600 years earlier and that to the wrong couples are
about to get married, what follows is a roller coaster of a series of
confusions, mindless comedy, some dreadful song sequences, a very forgetful
Nawazuddin cameo, and thus we have Housefull 4. So, does the fourth issue carry
on with the ludicrous reputation of the Housefull franchise, or does it stand
out and give the viewers something to look forward for the upcoming
installments?? Here are some god and bad aspects of the movie:
The
Good: Akshay Kumar; undoubtably is the heart & soul of the franchise or of
any other comedy movie for that matter. With an implacable comic timing, Kumar doesn’t
skip a beat in any sequence or dialog, in fact some of the most genuine & memorable
scenes are his. While others struggle, Kumar’s performance stands out as
hilariously effortless, as if comedy comes to him naturally. The actor, over
the years has seamlessly transformed from a hardcore-hunky action hero to a
hilariously-lovable star, and is here to stay. This performance keeps us
excited for the actor’s future endeavors like Sooryavanshi (Rohit Shetty, 2020),
Laxmi Bomb (Official remake of Kanchana, 2020) and Prithwiraj (2020). As
evident from the trailers, Housefull 4, a period comedy, is filled with
references and parodies of Bahubali and Padmavat, perhaps two of the most
successful period/fantasy dramas in the recent years, with literally a direct parody
of the Bahubali title track in the movie, but thankfully not once the parodies
seemed cringeworthy. The movie fortunately delivered what it promised with some
breathtaking VFX and prepossessing set designs, almost at par with the originals!!
The 1419 Sitamgarh is exquisitely crafted and remains a spectacle to be experienced
only in the theatres. To top the majestic sets and to conclude the period comedy
experience is the magnificent costume design, with the 3 leading ladies looking
simply ravishing in every possible frame & scene.
The
Bad: With running hours of 2hr 22mins, Housefull 4 seems to take an eternity to
reach climax, but somehow appears to be rushed. Unfortunately, other than
Akshay the ensemble cast had nothing to offer either to the script, or the
screenplay, as if they are simply there to fill the frame, while Kumar does the
heavy lifting. The music is outright vile, with perhaps some of the most
cowering lyrics ever written in a Bollywood movie, each song sequence is
undesired and only adds length to the film.
Final
Verdict: With two similar big releases like Made in China and Saand ki Aankh,
Housefull 4 appears to take the cake this Diwali, with viewers choosing
Housefull as their favorite for the festives. But box office numbers aren’t all,
as Housefull 4 seems to be a missed opportunity where the fourth installment
had all possibilities of surpassing all three predecessors both in respect of a
compelling plot-VFX & sets design and commendable performances. It’s a step
in the right direction though, and it appears that the fourth issue in some way
stands out as the best till now in the franchise, which offer viewers something
to look forward from the franchise in the future.
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