The Housefull series has always managed to impress audiences and the box office alike. Back in 2010, Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta and Jiah Khan delivered a blockbuster in the name of Housefull. Two years later, the second franchise of the zany comedy released, with many more additions to the cast, including Asin Thuttumkal, Jacqueline Fernandez and John Abraham. And now, three years later, director duo Sajid-Farhad are treating audiences with the third instalment of the franchise – Housefull 3.
Housefull 3 belongs to the same category of films as No Entry, De Dana Dan and the Welcome, Golmaal and Dhamaal franchises. It’s often described as ‘leave your brains at home’ cinema. In some cases, I would have suggested to keep the rest of your body home as well, and Housefull 3 is the same. So the story narrates the story of a rich, self-claimed ‘world’s luckiest father’, Batook Patel (played brilliantly by Boman Irani) who has three traditional daughters, Ganga Patel (Jacqueline Fernandez), Jamuna Patel (Lisa Haydon) and Saraswati Patel (Nargis Fakhri). These three have been forbidden from marrying due to a reason Father Patel cannot disclose. Enter their boyfriends, Sandy (Akshay Kumar), a budding footballer who suffers from split personality disorder, Teddy (Ritesh Deskhmukh), a race car driver whose mind runs ahead of himself, and a struggling rapper, Bunty (Abhishekh Bachchan). As soon as these three enter the house, accompanied by India’s biggest don, Urja Nagre and ‘his’ children, the HOUSE becomes FULL.
TheHousefull franchise is hugely successful. Both the earlier films have proven to be blockbusters and the makers have just the right ingredients to make this one successful as well. After two big hits, the makers have immense pressure to make this one a commercial success as well. But director duo Sajid-Farhad end up doing a strictly average job with Housefull 3. The first half of the film is hilarious, with witty one liners and great acting. At one point, Ritesh Deshmukh, instead of calling his girlfriend Gracy calls her Genelia and I have to admit, I was having a lot of fun till the interval. After an uproarious first half, the second half is a bit of a let down. The pace thickens as the plot unravels but the story eventually loses steam. The climax is hysterical but by the time the climax arrives, you just want the film to get it over with!
As far as the performances go, Akshay Kumar is incredible. It is indeed pleasing to see that an actor can handle a serious film such as Airlift the same way he can handle a madcap comedy such as Housefull 3 both in the same year! Ritesh Deskhmukh is brilliant as well. Abhishekh, new to the Housefull team does an okay job. Out of the three girls, it is Jacqueline that makes the best and biggest impression. Lisa and Nargis are just average. Boman Irani nails it once again, with Chunky Pandey reprising his hilarious Aakhri Pasta act. Jackie Shroff is forgettable.
On the whole, Housefull 3 was great in the beginning, with good acting and foot tapping music, but eventually drags due to the addition of unnecessary characters, added just to make the ‘House Full’. I suggest you watch this if you have an appetite for mindless cinema otherwise wait for the gritty Udta Punjab, if it ever gets the clearance to release in Pakistan.
