Is 'Housefull 5' Worth Watching? Public Review by IANS

Mumbai, June 6 (NationPress) “Housefull 5,” the newest chapter in the beloved comedy series, has debuted to varied responses from the audience. While many viewers celebrated Akshay Kumar’s captivating performance and the film’s amusing moments, a considerable portion raised alarms about a fragile and underdeveloped storyline. For a large segment of the audience, “Housefull 5” provides exactly what it promised: energetic humor and exaggerated characters. Numerous moviegoers expressed positive feedback regarding the film’s entertainment quotient.

One enthusiastic cinema-goer shared with IANS, “This is a very good movie. Everyone should come to the theatre to watch it,” revealing their eagerness to not miss a single scene—even during intermission. Another viewer praised the film’s Bollywood essence, stating, “Superb! This is a true Bollywood masala film. People say we’re only watching South Indian films or remakes, but this one revives that classic Bollywood feel. Five stars from me!”

From the audience's viewpoint, the film’s major appeal lies in its star-studded ensemble and comedic touch. “It was a great movie! They should definitely proceed with Housefull 6 and 7 too,” remarked another viewer. “The songs were enjoyable—even if I didn’t understand what ‘Lal Pari’ meant. Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff’s entrance scenes were striking, and the background score, especially ‘Veer Nahi Khal Nayak,’ was impressive.”

Akshay Kumar’s comeback to comedy has been one of the film’s most lauded features. Viewers particularly commended his screen presence and comedic timing. “Akshay sir’s return is the highlight,” said a fan. “We waited eagerly for him to reprise a comic role since Housefull 4, and he truly delivered. He carried the entire film, as he deserved the most screen time. And when Nana Patekar joins in, it’s a double treat. The film won’t bore you at all!”

Another viewer added, “In one word—outstanding! I was tired of seeing Akshay in serious, patriotic roles. This film brings him back to his roots.”

However, despite the enthusiastic reception from many, not all viewers were satisfied. Some believed the film lacked the charm of its predecessors.

“I’ve watched the earlier Housefull films, but this one didn’t resonate with me,”

said a disheartened viewer. “The film was heavily promoted, and while Akshay is undoubtedly a great actor and the production is lavish, the storyline and screenplay were indeed weak.”

Others pointed out that the film deviated too much from its comedic origins. “Earlier films had a balanced mix of comedy with quirky horror or fantasy elements,” one reviewer noted. “But this time, the emphasis on a murder mystery dulls the humor. The comedy just falls flat.” Criticisms were also directed towards the performances. One audience member stated, “Except for Johnny Lever, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Dutt, and Jackie Shroff, most of the cast overacted. Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, and the female leads like Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, and Jacqueline didn’t exhibit much depth.”

“Housefull 5” showcases an impressive cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, Nikitin Dheer, and Akashdeep Sabir.

Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, this comedy-drama hit theaters today, on June 6.