Madgaon Express - Usual but a cool ride

 

Movie: Madgaon Express
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Avinash Tiwary, Nora Fatehi, Remo D’Souza, Upendra Limaye, Chaaya Kadam and others
Director: Kunal Kemmu
Produced By: Farhan Akthar and Ritesh Sidwani

Release Date: 22nd March 2024

Story:

Three childhood friends want to fulfill their aspiration of traveling to Goa as a group. Nevertheless, a mix-up with their travel bag leads to two rival mafia bosses chasing after them, derailing their trip entirely. How these three men get back to normalcy in life is what follows the rest of the story. 

Performances:

Divyenndu demonstrates exceptional comedic timing and flawlessly embodies the character of an incorrigible bluffer. Pratik Gandhi never fails to make you laugh whenever he mistakenly sniffs cocaine and transforms from a timid mama's boy to a 'dus minute ka Rambo.' Avinash Tiwari perfectly complements the hilarious trio as the most sensible member. Upendra Limaye, portraying the role of Don Mendonza (humorously referred to as Mangola, Mandakini, Mandolin, etc.), keeps the audience entertained with his antics. Chhaya Kadam also delivered a commendable performance. 

What Worked For The Film:

Actor Kunal Kemmu makes his debut as a writer and director with this uproarious comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish during its 144-minute runtime. From the comical antics of the hapless Dodo, who pretends to have a glamorous life on social media, to the trio's misadventures, this absolute entertainer serves up rib-tickling scenarios and witty one-liners. The film's standout moments revolve around the witty exchanges skillfully delivered by talented lead actors. Even in tense or perilous situations, the performers effortlessly inject humor in a natural and timely manner. In addition to the actors, credit must be given to Kemmu's writing mastery. The movie also pays homage to similar outings like Dil Chahta Hai, Go Goa Gone, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, etc, without appearing contrived.

What Did Not Work For The Film:

The concept of protagonists evading mafia members is a concept that has been introduced previously. In line with a comedic style, Madgaon Express features exaggerated characters, including the mafia fisherwomen led by Kanchan Kombdi (Chhaya Kadam), who carry guns and wear goggles. The film sometimes becomes slow-paced and occasionally feels overloaded with lengthy scenes or awkward situations. Dodo creates an intricate online presence to grab his friends' notice and does not make much impact, and a brawl at a fish market, where he and Pinku disguise themselves as fisherwomen, contributes to the film's duration.

Madgaon Express Review And Verdict:

Madgaon Express is usual, but it is a cool ride. The lead cast's performances, situational comedy, and a few emotional moments work for the film, while weak music, predictability at a few places, and some stretched parts work against it. However, the film has a decent emotional appeal, which makes it a good one-time watch.