Housefull 5 Movie Review, Ever board a cruise where every step forward is met with confusion, mistak identities, and more chaos than a circus on fire? That’s Housefull 5 for you, a film that doesn’t just cross the line between silly and senseless, it obliterates it.
The fifth installment of this long-running franchise takes its madness to a whole new level, sailing straight into absurdity with Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan at the helm. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani (yes, the same guy behind Dostana and the much-maligned Drive), this film tries hard to be funny… but is mostly just a loud, nonsensical mess.
A Cruise Ship Full of Confusion
The entire film is set on a luxurious cruise ship that’s suppose to be celebrating the 100th birthday of one of Britain’s wealthiest businessmen. Sounds fancy, right? But what unfolds is more like a comedy-themed escape room with no exit.
There’s a murder on board, a masked killer bumps off the tycoon. And while you think you’re about to get a thrilling whodunit with a Bollywood twist, what you get instead is a string of slapstick gags, tired jokes, and characters who seem just as confused as the audience.
Who’s Jolly? Apparently, Everyone Is
Housefull 5 Movie Review, The main plot (if we can call it that) centers around three men, all claiming to be the deceased billionaire’s rightful heir each going by the name “Jolly.” We’ve got:
- Jalabuddin aka Jolly (Riteish Deshmukh) with his lady Zara (Sonam Bajwa),
- Jalbhushan aka Jolly (Abhishek Bachchan) tagging along with Sasikala (Jacqueline Fernandez),
- Julius aka Jolly (Akshay Kumar) arriving with Kaanchi (Nargis Fakhri).
Let’s just say the ship isn’t big enough for all the Jollys.
Women in the Film? Just Eye Candy, Sadly
Despite a fairly glamorous lineup, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangda Singh, and Soundarya Sharma the female characters are criminally underuse. They dance, they smile, they flirt, and… that’s about it.
In the world of Housefull 5, women exist largely to react to the men’s madness or dress up for a musical number.e
The Murder Mystery That’s Not Really a Mystery
With a killer on the loose, you’d think the movie would keep us guessing. But the suspense is thinner than a soggy napkin. Two suspended Indian-origin British cops land on the ship, followed by an over-the-top Interpol officer (played by Nana Patekar), who smokes beedis and teaches Marathi folk dances.
No one knows what’s going on, including the characters themselves. Logic jumps overboard early on, never to be seen again.
Flashbacks, References, and Callbacks Galore
Housefull 5 is obsessed with its past. There are not-so-subtle nods to the earlier movies remember the monkey from the original Housefull? He’s back. Sort of. There’s also a loud macaw, just like in Housefull 4.
Even characters that aren’t present like Boman Irani’s Batuk Patel, are spiritually replaced, this time by Johny Lever playing a bumbling ship security officer. And yes, Nikitin Dheer’s role as the tough ship captain is a callback to his Chennai Express villain, Thangabali.
Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff Add Star Power… Barely
Housefull 5 Movie Review, Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff try to stir the pot as Bhiddu and Baba, two comically named characters tossed in for added flair. Dutt’s scenes are underscored with an instrumental remix of “Nayak Nahi Khalnayak Hoon Main,” only for someone to cleverly (or not) tweak it to “Nalayak.”
That about sums up the film’s sense of humor: It tries to be clever but ends up being cringe.
Nana Patekar Goes Full Marathi Manoos
If you were hoping for someone to salvage the chaos, Nana Patekar steps in as the Interpol chief. Unfortunately, even his eccentric energy can’t fix the film. At one point, he gets the whole ship grooving to a folk-dance number. It’s kind of fun, but also out of place, like adding gulab jamun to pizza.
Too Much of Everything… and Not in a Good Way
Housefull 5 doesn’t just lean into over-the-top it swan dives into it. The jokes go on forever, the scenes stretch without reason, and every actor is dialed up to 11. The result? A sensory overload that’ll leave you dizzy rather than delighted.
What Works (Barely)
Housefull 5 Movie Review, To be fair, there are moments that might make you chuckle. If you’re the kind who finds joy in pure slapstick, outrageous disguises, and wild impersonations, you’ll find pockets of fun here. But those moments are few and far between, buried under mountains of chaos.
The Real Mystery: Who Greenlit This Script?
It’s honestly baffling how Housefull 5 went from paper to screen without anyone stopping and asking, “Does this make any sense?” The plot feels like a patchwork of half-baked ideas, stitched together with the weakest of threads.
Even the franchise’s loyal fans might find themselves scratching their heads this time.
Should You Watch It?
Well… only if you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise or have an unusually high tolerance for absurdity. Otherwise, you’re better off rewatching the earlier Housefull films (at least they had some structure).
Save your popcorn. Or better yet, go on a real cruise at least that one won’t come with three Jollys and a macaw.
Conclusion
Housefull 5 Movie Review, Housefull 5 tries to be a madcap murder mystery and a screwball comedy rolled into one, but ends up being a parody of itself. It drowns in its own absurdity and takes its audience down with it.
Sure, you might find moments of laughter in all the madness but if you’re looking for a well-crafted comedy, this cruise isn’t the one to board.
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangda Singh, Soundarya Sharma, Johny Lever, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Shreyas Talpade, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea
Director: Tarun Mansukhani
Written by: Sajid Nadiadwala & Tarun Mansukhani
