Housefull 5 (2025) Movie: Akshay Kumar Couldn’t Save This Sinking Comedy Ship

Sajid Nadiadwala’s comedy franchise returns with its fifth chapter, and honestly, I wish it had stayed docked. Tarun Mansukhani takes the director’s seat for this cruise ship comedy that promises laughs but delivers mostly groans. The familiar faces of Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh are back.

Joining them are Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, and Nargis Fakhri in what should be substantial roles. Veterans Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Johnny Lever round out this star-heavy cast. Unfortunately, having big names doesn’t guarantee big laughs, as this movie painfully demonstrates.

The Story That Lost Its Way

Picture this: a wealthy father decides his son “Jolly” gets everything in his will. The catch? Nobody knows who the real Jolly is among several claimants. Everyone gathers on a luxury cruise for dad’s birthday party, then someone gets murdered.

This setup could work brilliantly for both comedy and suspense. Instead, the writers seem to have thrown random ideas together hoping something would stick. Too many subplots compete for attention without any clear direction or purpose.

I found myself checking my watch multiple times during the unnecessarily long runtime. The murder mystery angle feels tacked on rather than organically woven into the comedy. By the climax, you’re more confused than entertained, which is never good.

Performances: Hit and Miss Affair

Akshay Kumar remains the film’s saving grace with his natural flair for comedy. His timing is spot-on, and he clearly understands his character’s motivations. Even when the script fails him, Akshay manages to squeeze laughs from thin material.

Abhishek and Riteish share good moments together, particularly in their buddy-comedy scenes. These two have worked together before and their chemistry shows on screen. I genuinely enjoyed watching their interactions, which felt authentic and funny.

The veteran comedians like Johnny Lever get limited screen time unfortunately. Their experience could have elevated weaker scenes, but the script doesn’t utilize their talents properly. Such a waste of comedic legends, really.

Women in this film exist merely as decoration, which feels backward in 2025. Jacqueline and others barely get dialogue beyond looking pretty. I expected much better treatment of female characters from a mainstream Bollywood production.

Behind the Camera Problems

Tarun Mansukhani seems overwhelmed by the large cast and multiple storylines. Scenes jump around without proper transitions or logical connections. The pacing drags in the first half and rushes through important plot points later.

Cruise ship locations look impressive but the cinematography doesn’t make them feel special. Basic shots and conventional angles waste the unique setting completely. Editing feels choppy with awkward cuts between scenes that break the flow.

Music and Production Design

Songs are forgettable despite catchy beats that might work in isolation. None of them advance the story or add emotional depth. The dance numbers feel obligatory rather than organic to the narrative.

Production design does justice to the luxury cruise setting. Costumes and sets look expensive and appropriate for the story. However, technical competence can’t mask story weaknesses that plague this film throughout.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly Truth

Let me be honest about what works here. Akshay’s comic timing still delivers genuine laughs occasionally. Some dialogue exchanges between the male leads spark with humor. The cruise setting provides visual appeal even if underutilized.

Now for what doesn’t work, which is unfortunately most everything else. Too many characters create confusion rather than ensemble magic. The murder plot complicates things without adding suspense or stakes.

Direction lacks clear vision for what this movie wants to be. Is it slapstick comedy? Murder mystery? Family drama? The tonal inconsistency becomes jarring after a while. I couldn’t connect with any character because none felt fully developed.

Critics and Audiences Speak

Professional reviewers haven’t been kind to this cruise ship comedy. Rotten Tomatoes shows harsh 13% approval from critics with devastating reviews. Audience scores on IMDb hover around 3.4 which indicates widespread disappointment.

Bollywood Hungama’s positive review calling it “paisa-vasool” seems to be the exception. Most critics point out structural problems and poor character development. 123telugu gave it 2.75 stars highlighting the mixed reception perfectly.

Social media buzz suggests even franchise loyalists feel let down. Comments range from disappointment to outright anger about wasted potential. The harsh critical consensus seems justified after watching this messy execution.

Bottom Line

Housefull 5 represents everything wrong with sequel filmmaking today. Instead of building on franchise strengths, it adds unnecessary complications while ignoring basic storytelling principles. The talented cast deserves much better material than this confused screenplay.

Akshay Kumar’s fans might find scattered moments to enjoy here. However, casual moviegoers should definitely skip this chaotic cruise ride. The franchise needs serious course correction before attempting another installment.

I walked in hoping for mindless entertainment and left feeling genuinely frustrated. Comedy should uplift audiences, not make them question their movie choices.

Rating: 2/5