Review : Housefull 5 : Whodunit with Slapstick Humour!

Housefull 5 sails into familiar territory with its trademark over-the-top comedy and chaotic character confusion. This time, the madness unfolds aboard a lavish cruise ship where billionaire #RanjeetDobriyal (#Ranjeet) is celebrating his 100th birthday — until he’s mysteriously murdered before the festivities begin. Before his death, he had transferred all his wealth to his first wife’s son, Jolly. But chaos erupts when not one, but three men — Julius aka Jolly (#AkshayKumar), Jalaluddin aka Jolly (#RiteishDeshmukh), and Jalbhushan aka Jolly (#AbhishekBachchan) — arrive to claim the inheritance.

Things spiral out of control when Dev (Fardeen Khan), Ranjeet’s stepson, demands a DNA test to identify the real Jolly — only for the doctor to be murdered next. With the killer clearly among them, two bumbling cops, Bhidu (Sanjay Dutt) and Baba (Jackie Shroff), attempt to investigate, adding more confusion than clarity. Each character brings their own brand of comic madness, mistaken identities, and outrageous antics that spiral out of control.

The film is packed with slapstick humour, glamorous heroines (Soundarya Sharma, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangda Singh), and lavish visuals. However, the screenplay feels stretched with back-to-back songs like “Kayaamat,” “Laal Pari,” and “Phugdi Dance” interrupting the narrative flow. While the jokes aim for laughs, many double entendres feel outdated and borderline crass. Among the cast, Nana Patekar stands out with his commanding presence, while the rest mostly play to their comedic strengths.

A unique gimmick — two alternate climaxes (Housefull 5A and 5B) — means audiences may get different killer reveals depending on which version they watch. Despite its star-studded ensemble and high production value, the film falls short of delivering a fresh story, reminding viewers that content, not just chaos, is key. Watch it if you’re in the mood for mindless comedy and don’t mind predictable mayhem.

Rating : ***

By Keerti Kadam