The highly anticipated Housefull 5 sailed into theatres on June 6 with a cargo of expectations, a glittering cast, and a mystery twist. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film arrives in two versions — Housefull 5A and 5B — each with a different ending. We’re reviewing the A-side of this cinematic coin toss.
Bringing together Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh for the first time in nearly six years, the film promised a laughter riot. What we got, instead, was a shipwreck of comedy and chaos.
Plot: Who’s the Real Jolly?
Set on a luxury cruise, the film begins with a 100th birthday party for a billionaire tycoon — who promptly dies just before the bash. But not before declaring that his son Jolly (from his first wife) will inherit everything. Chaos hits the deck when three different men (Akshay as Julias, Abhishek as Jalbhushan, and Riteish as Jalabuddin) all claim to be the rightful heir.
Enter Dev (Fardeen Khan), the son from the tycoon’s second marriage, who demands a DNA test. Just when things couldn’t get messier, drinks are spiked, memories are wiped, and the doctor meant to run the test ends up murdered. Now, the three fake Jollys are suspects — with no memory of what happened.
Cue the entry of Sanjay Dutt and Jackie Shroff as eccentric cops tasked with solving this murder mystery on the high seas. Add in a lineup of glamorous women — Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Sonam Bajwa, and Soundarya Sharma — and you’ve got a recipe for… confusion.
Verdict: More Chaos Than Comedy
Despite its glossy visuals, larger-than-life sets, and all-star cast, Housefull 5A struggles to deliver laughs or logic. The humour feels forced, the plot too predictable, and the gags overly exaggerated. What was meant to be a madcap comedy ends up being an exhausting circus of clichés.
There are flashes of fun, but they’re too few and far between. The film tries hard to recapture the original Housefull charm, but ends up sinking under its own weight.
Final Word:
Housefull 5 promises a cruise of comedy but docks at disappointment. If you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise, you might board for nostalgia. For everyone else, this ship might be better missed.
