Golmaal 3 Review

One can safely say that Rohit Shetty has cracked the formula. Whether it is Priyadarshan, David Dhawan or Anees Bazmee - each of the film makers is known for the brand of cinema that they generate year after year. Now join Rohit Shetty to the list. After watching 'Golmaal 3', one can declare that Rohit too knows what is expected from him. And he delivers. Each time around.

Though the film has been sold as the story of six prime protagonists divided by two rival teams [one comprising of Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor & Shreyas Talpade and another made of Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu], 'Golmaal 3' is actually the story of Ratna Pathak Shah and Mithun Chakravorty who are the head of the two families. Separated in youth, now the two veteran lovers find themselves face to face again. Would the families get united with the duo coming back again?

A storyline like this could have become a family drama. However, Rohit and his writers come together to make a fun film which has gags and plenty humours moments to keep the wheels rolling right from start to finish. To pep up the fun quotient further, they also introduce a Johnny Lever track with his 'Ghajini' like syndrome [short term memory loss] which fits into the narrative perfectly well.

What doesn't work though is the extended love track of Mithun and Ratna. Really, after a point, it seems quite stretched. Yes, the flashback sequence is done well but the hurdles towards their marriage and an eventual coming together could have been crisper. Also, a few jokes in this half of the film fall flat. However, the second half flies by like a bullet and doesn't let audience think about what has gone past by. The pranks played by the boys of the house and re-emergence of Johnny Lever towards the last 30 minutes of the film ensure that 'Golmaal 3' lives up to the expectations that one had from the film.

In fact it won't be wrong to say that three characters which actually have maximum screen time in the film are Kareena Kapoor, Mithun Chakravorty and Johnny Lever. Ajay Devgn becomes a part of the gang and while he is part of the film throughout, he doesn't try to overshadow anyone. Arshad Warsi, who was said to be short changed in 'Golmaal Returns', won't have any reason to complain this time around as amongst the men, he leaves maximum impact as he gets the best lines for himself.

From the younger lot, Tusshar Kapoor comes up with a performance which is expected of him and the recall value of his 'goonga' act means that he gets into the fifth gear from the word go. However, he takes a brilliant back gear in the scene where he comes with an emotional outburst as he reveals the truth to the entire gang of boys.

New entrant Kunal Khemu leaves a mark and actually gets a good enough screen time for himself. Sadly, Shreyas Talpade is relegated to the backseat here. On the other hand Johnny Lever is a riot all through the film and brings down the house every-time he appears. Mithun brings back the memories of yore when he re-enacts the 'Pyaar Jhukta Nahin' sequence with Prem Chopra as the father of the bride. Ratna Pathak Shah is okay.

'Golmaal 3' is not a great piece of cinema. It's purpose of existence is simple, give audience those two and a half hours of non-stop fun, come what may, and ensure that there is no dull moment that goes past by. This is what one gets to see in this non-stop laugh riot that begins well, has a good middle portion and a convincing end as well, all of it making sure that the time that audience spends watching the film flies by in a jiffy.

Go~go~go watch it this Diwali!

Rating: ****