WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Going to extremes. When it comes to being in love, it’s a mentality many might know well. As it is without question people will go to great lengths to endear themselves to one another–or perhaps to their loved one’s family–exactly how far this goes is another story entirely. Take, for example, Batook Patel (Boman Irani), a wealthy businessman who’s been blessed with three amazingly beautiful daughters–Ganga (Jacqueline Fernandez), Saraswati (Nargis Fakhri), and Jamuna (Lisa Haydon). Being his ideal picture of proper young women, Batook doesn’t want them to marry, coming up with all manner of excuses as to why. But, unknown to this doting but paranoid father, the girls aren’t the quiet, subdued type.
Having fun and just being girls behind their father’s back, the three have already fallen for their respective men–Sandy (Akshay Kumar), Bunty (Abhishek Bachchan), and Teddy (Riteish Deshmukh), but only tell select friends about them. Putting a final obstacle in their path, Batook arranges for the girls to believe that he will die if each one’s potential suitor would either see, speak, or move towards him should they meet. Finding this out, the three men make individual decisions to feign each infirmity as notified about by their beaus. The ensuing hijinks only serve to make matters even more outrageous for everyone involved, even as new revelations about Batook, the girl’s past, and the return of a former Don, Urja Nagre (Jackie Shroff), complicate things further.
Next, my Mind:
The re-teaming of “Entertainment” writer/director duo Farhad-Sajid for this absolutely hilarious, off-the-wall, slapstick, double entendre-filled, wrongly phrased idea-laden escapade is nothing short of perfection for this reviewer. Even though the whole narrative begins with a brief, deadly serious sequence, beyond this it is a complete riot of laughs, as the entire primary cast delivers silliness to the top degree and the viewer cannot help but be guffawing the entire time. It’s the sheer goofiness of the proceedings that makes it so enjoyable, and being it isn’t like so many modern American comedies whose sole purpose is to be as crude and profane as possible, here even the off-color moments are a total stitch. Score another point for Bollywood cinema in that respect, at least in this effort.
Coming off seeing actor Akshay Kumar in “Entertainment” on DVD for the first time recently, plus in this year’s serious drama “Airlift“, it was a foregone conclusion that he would continue to bring it when it came to the character of Sandy. This was proven so very true. Exuding what honestly seems like natural comedic timing and delivery, Kumar’s dual-personality Sandy/Sundi had me rolling the whole time, both in his portrayals of the upright and wheelchair-bound personas he plays. Likewise, Bachchan’s wanna-be rapper/”mute” and Deshmukh’s constantly verbally challenged/”blind” rascal, are so excellently brought to life by the two actors. Then, the combination of the three of them together, especially when they all get exposed and have to bumble through keeping up appearances is even more insane and laugh-inducing. Irani channels “3 Idiots” foolishness as Batook, and Shroff’s part in the affairs is actually quite potent.
Let’s not forget the ladies, of course! As Batook’s three more-free-than-he-realizes daughters, it’s a truly engaging team effort for Fernandez, Fakhri, and Haydon, all embodying the proper manners in initial situations but then showcasing their wonderfully vivacious and playful sides when out and about partying and hanging with their boys. All three have fantastic comedic timing as well, and each provides their own unique quirks when it comes to winning their father’s approval of the beaus, while also stumbling through a rash of misunderstood and needs-to-be-qualified remarks over the course of the story. Let’s just be honest here–all three are drop-dead gorgeous, and it would be a lie to say this isn’t a plus. But again, each is very, very solid in the comedy-laced character they’re given, and they just make you want to join in on all the fun.
In total, “Housefull 3” is a comedy with heart, passion, insanity, laughs galore, superbly high-spirited song and dance numbers, and ultimately a message about what real love and telling the truth is about, and why not? Any time we can be this entertained and still taught valuable life lessons worth applying–“Bravo, Bollywood, Bravo!!”.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
