Madgaon Express Movie Review | Filmfare.com
[ad_1]
3.5/5
Dodo (Divyenndu) is an unemployed young man in his early 30s who suffers from an overdose of imagination. He decides to finally pursue his childhood dream by taking his two friends from abroad, Ayush (Avinash Tiwary) and Pinku (Pratik Gandhi), on a budget-friendly trip to Goa. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn right from the start, as they experience a series of wild mishaps on their train ride. From encounters with drugs, guns, and a gangster to facing an all-female gang and being pursued by the police, the trio finds themselves caught up in increasingly eccentric situations. Despite the chaos and drama, the film keeps a firm hold on the viewer’s attention, with laughter intensifying as the story unfolds.
Kunal Kemmu is a fine comic actor and with his debut vehicle, he has shown us that he can deftly direct comedies as well. Kunal has also written the film and Hollywood hits such as Pineapple Express (2008) and The Hangover (2009) seem to have served as his muse. He hasn’t copied anything frame to frame but has borrowed certain situations and Indianised them. The result is a wacky comedy that makes you laugh till your jaws hurt.
The film is filled with one crazy situation after another. In the beginning, where we see the child avatars of the trio, they are awkward teenagers who suck at dancing, talking to girls and generally behave immaturely. Nothing seems to have changed in the intervening years, as they are as juvenile and clumsy as ever, even in their 30s. The scene where they total a car under the influence of alcohol, their encounter with different sets of goons or the climax fight scene showcase their ineptness at handling things maturely. You laugh at the silliness of it all and as you witness a series of misadventures.
Besides physical comedy, Kemmu has also come up with some really hilarious dialogue. Divyenndu, who is known for his comic timing, is the motormouth among the three friends and gets the best lines. His deadpan delivery of corny dialogue is spot on. Pratik Gandhi is a trained theatre actor known for his dramatic roles but here proves his versatility by doing excellent physical comedy. His scenes where he overdoses on cocaine and changes his personality or when he loses one of his fingers are fun to watch. Avinash TIiwary too is known for his dramatic roles but here is presented as a well-groomed Bollywood hero. He’s the complete good looking package and he too surprises with his yen for comedy. Mention must also be made of Upendra Limaye and Chhaya Kadam, who play mafia dons caught in a love-hate relationship with aplomb. Nora Fatehi has been hired as the glam quotient and suits the bill.
Credit must be given to Kunal Kemmu, who has made a hell of a stoner comedy as his debut. Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi and Avinash Tiwary have never worked together before but the director has made sure of their camaraderie. They do come across as childhood friends, who quarrel a lot but are there for each other when it counts.
Watch the film for its series of gags designed to tickle your funny bone and for the inspired comedic acting by the entire ensemble cast.
Trailer : Madgaon Express
Dhaval Roy, March 22, 2024, 12:58 PM IST
3.5/5
Madgaon Express Story: Three childhood friends fulfill their dream of going to Goa together. However, an exchanged travel bag has two warring mafia dons hot on their heels, taking their trip completely off-track.
Madgaon Express Review: Boys just wanna have fun and soak up the sun in Goa. It’s a dream Dhanush, aka Dodo (Divyenndu), Pratik ‘Pinku’ Garodia (Pratik Gandhi), and Ayush Gupta (Avinash Tiwari) have had since their school days. But parents and mishaps come in the way, and the trio ends up miles away from each other in Mumbai, Cape Town, and New York. More than 15 years later, the plan pans out, but things take an unexpected turn when the no-gooder Dodo plans the trip.
Actor Kunal Kemmu debuts as a writer and director with this laugh riot that will keep you giggling to guffawing throughout its 144 minutes. From the loser Dodo’s shenanigans with a fake life on social media to the triumvirate’s misadventures, the out-and-out entertainer dishes out side-splitting situations and hilarious one-liners.
The film’s highlights remain the clever dialogues (Itne participants hain, sirf humari maut ka lucky draw nikalna baaki hai!) delivered with impeccable timing by powerful performers. Even when a situation turns serious or dangerous, the actors find a way to infuse humour quickly and organically. Besides the performers, the credit for this goes to Kemmu’s grip on writing. The movie also gives a nod to other outings of its ilk — Dil Chahta Hai, Go Goa Gone, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, etc, without seeming too forced.
On the flip side, protagonists escaping mafioso isn’t a novel premise. Typical of a slapstick comedy, Madgaon Express also has some over-the-top characters, such as the gun-toting and goggles-wearing mafia fisherwomen led by Kanchan Kombdi (Chhaya Kadam). The narrative loses pace and occasionally feels crammed with long-drawn tracks or jarring situations. Dodo sets up an elaborate social media presence to get his friends’ attention and a fight at a fish market where he and Pinku go dressed as fisherwomen adds to the film’s runtime.
The movie shines a well-deserved spotlight on Divyenndu. The actor exhibits impeccable comic timing and effortlessly pulls off the role of an incorrigible bluffer. Pratik Gandhi will crack you up every time he mistakenly sniffs cocaine and goes from being a wimpy mama’s boy to a ‘dus minute ka Rambo.’ Avinash Tiwari completes the rib-tickling trio as the sanest lad of the lot. Upendra Limaye as the don, Mendonza (who’s funnily called Mangola, Mandakini, Mandolin, etc.) keeps you entertained with his antics, and Chhaya Kadam delivers a good performance, too.
With its sharp dialogue and spot-on performances, Madgaon Express is a comedy worth watching. The mad ride will leave you laughing out loud!
[ad_2]
