By MoviesDrive Team | Genre: Comedy, Mystery | Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
The Housefull franchise is known for its unapologetic love of slapstick humor, absurd situations, and ensemble chaos. With Housefull 5A, director Tarun Mansukhani attempts to extend the formula with a murder mystery twist—set not in a mansion or exotic locale, but on a luxury cruise liner drifting into madness.
Despite the scale and star power, Housefull 5A ends up feeling like an overstuffed buffet—plenty on the table, but not everything worth tasting.
🧩 Plot: Three Heirs and a Murder
The story kicks off with the mysterious murder of a billionaire aboard a lavish cruise. What follows is classic Housefull madness—three different men (Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan) claiming to be his rightful heir, each accompanied by their glamorous but confused partners. Chaos erupts as detectives investigate, identities clash, secrets unravel, and guests break into dance without warning.
In true franchise fashion, the plot is secondary to the madness. But here, there’s an added twist: Housefull 5A offers one of two endings (5A or 5B), with different culprits in each version. The intent is to bring freshness to the formula, though how much it works depends on your tolerance for silliness.
🎭 Performances: Familiar Faces, Familiar Fun
- Akshay Kumar returns as the franchise’s comic anchor. His energy, timing, and self-awareness shine, especially in scenes where he breaks the fourth wall or exaggerates to the point of parody.
- Riteish Deshmukh, another Housefull veteran, brings reliable laughs through his exaggerated expressions and accidental wisdom.
- Abhishek Bachchan, back in comic territory, holds his own, though he seems underutilized in many scenes.
- The Female Leads (Jacqueline Fernandez, Kriti Sanon, and Nora Fatehi) mostly serve as eye candy, delivering glamour and dance sequences but very little in terms of character or arc.
- Veteran Cameos like Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Sanjay Dutt inject some unpredictable humor mid-way but don’t stick around long enough to make a strong impact.
😂 Comedy: Loud, Lavish, and Lowbrow
Comedy in Housefull 5A is like an old-school Bollywood carnival—loud, exaggerated, and proudly juvenile. Expect a barrage of puns, mistaken identities, slapstick falls, and a relentless use of double entendre. While some jokes land, especially during moments of ensemble madness, many feel dated or forced.
If you enjoy humor that requires little logic and embraces chaos for chaos’s sake, you’ll find chuckles here. But those expecting sharp writing or smart satire may find the jokes groan-worthy instead of giggle-worthy.
🔍 The Mystery: Who Killed the Tycoon?
The murder mystery premise offers a fresh setup for the Housefull format, but it doesn’t evolve into anything clever. Red herrings are exaggerated, clues are ridiculous, and suspects flip-flop without reason. Ultimately, the “whodunnit” element is more of a setup for punchlines than a serious mystery.
That said, the “alternate ending” approach—where theaters may show either version A or B with different culprits—is an innovative gimmick. It sparks curiosity, and hardcore fans may rewatch to spot differences. Still, the payoff is more style than substance.
🎶 Music & Visuals: Gloss Over Substance
The music is upbeat but largely forgettable. Songs pop in at random intervals, often stalling the story rather than enhancing it. The choreography is lavish, and the costume design stays true to the franchise’s colorful palette, but nothing sticks melodically.
Visually, the film is rich in color but not particularly cinematic. The cruise ship setting is underused beyond establishing a few slapstick routines and water-based gags.
🧠 Writing & Direction: Logic Walks the Plank
The screenplay feels like a series of disconnected gags strung together with the loosest of threads. While Housefull films never prioritized logic, this installment feels particularly lazy in its transitions and character motivations.
Director Tarun Mansukhani tries to pack too much into a single film—romance, mystery, action, musical numbers, and meta-comedy. The result is an uneven tone that never settles. There’s some directorial flair in managing the large cast, but too often it feels like the film is trying to juggle flaming torches blindfolded.
✅ What Works
- Akshay Kumar’s energy keeps the film from falling completely flat.
- Some genuinely funny one-liners from Riteish and supporting cast.
- Alternate-ending format adds intrigue.
- The mid-section, with veteran cameos, provides a brief spark of fun.
❌ What Doesn’t
- Over-reliance on crude jokes and adult humor.
- Weak writing with little cohesion.
- A massive cast with very little for most of them to do.
- Forced musical numbers and flat cinematography.
- A murder mystery that forgets to build real suspense.
📝 Verdict: For Fans Only
Housefull 5A delivers exactly what it promises: wild comedy, absurd twists, and enough star power to keep the screen shiny. But underneath the gloss is a film that struggles to balance chaos with coherence.
If you’re a loyal follower of the Housefull brand, you might enjoy this cruise for the nostalgia and Akshay’s charm. For everyone else, it’s a bumpy ride that doesn’t justify the ticket price—especially when comedy itself feels like it’s running on fumes.
Final Score: ★★☆☆☆
Best For: Fans of slapstick Bollywood comedy, Akshay Kumar enthusiasts, or viewers who enjoy mindless fun.
Avoid If: You’re looking for intelligent humor, strong writing, or a cohesive mystery.
