Review: Housefull 5 - Funny But Not Enough

 

 

Movie: Housefull 5
Rating: 2.5/5

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Fardeen Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Dino Morea, Shreyas Talpade, Johnny Lever, Chunky Pandey and others

Director: Tarun Mansukhani

Produced By: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment

Release Date: 06-06-2025

Story:

The passing of an elderly billionaire (Ranjeet) during his lavish cruise creates turmoil for everyone on the ship. His will designates his son ‘Jolly’ as the heir to his estate. The situation escalates into madness when three persons named Jolly (Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh) arrive to stake their claim to the fortune. As if the plot wasn't already complicated, a masked murderer is on the prowl, making everyone a potential suspect. The rest of the film is about who is the murderer and who is the genuine Jolly.


Performances:

The film has a huge star cast. Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh bring some entertainment, while Abhishek Bachchan has limited dialogue but gets some importance at the end. The female characters mainly focus on adding glamour and are often the target of adult humor. Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Fardeen Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Dino Morea, Shreyas Talpade, Johnny Lever, and Chunky Panday are underutilized. Talpade, in particular, is absent for a significant portion of the film. Nana Patekar lifts the film in the last twenty minutes with his character.

What worked for the film:

The film's initial sequence and few scenes involving Akshay and Riteish in the first half bring laughs. The story becomes exciting at the climax, which is a bit too late, of course. This is when Nana Patekar makes his entrance. The veteran actor, skilled in this genre, demonstrates how it should be done. Dressed in a dhoti as an Interpol chief in London, but with roots in Maharashtra, Patekar is outstanding and brings energy to the film. The way the director holds the interest regarding the killer's identity is also interesting.

What did not work for the film:

Sajid Nadiadwala and Tarun Mansukhani attempt to mix comedy with a murder mystery in the film but fall short in both areas, except for the climax. It’s the final 20 minutes, along with Nana’s arrival, that really captivate you. As said above, there are some laughable moments in the first half that make one sit through it, but the second half does not get better and drags on. Also, the excessive usage of double-meaning jokes does not impress, as it becomes too repetitive and odd after a point.

Housefull 5 Review and Verdict:

Tarun Mansukhani's Housefull 5 has the potential to be a proper hilarious ride with a crime backdrop. However, though it has some fun moments in both halves, most of the proceedings become annoying rather than funny because of their repetition.