Review: 'Golmaal 3' is a side-splitting, out-and-out entertainer

Film: Golmaal 3 (U)
Director: Rohit Shetty
Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu, Mithun Chakraborty, Ratna Pathak Shah, Johnny Lever and others.
Rating: ***1/2

As expected (and promised), this film is all about wacky humour, well-timed farcical dialogues and brainless entertainment. With a multi-star cast, Golmaal 3 is bigger than Golmaal and Golmaal Returns but not necessarily better. The exhilaration factor that the film provides can be best described as a rolling pin – the opening and climax are bleak, all the fun is tucked away in the middle part.

This time around, the madcap gang is split into two groups – one with Gopal (Devgn), Laxman A (Talpade), Dabboo (Kareena Kapoor) and Geeta (Shah) as the matriarch, and the other with Madhav (Warsi), Lucky (Kapoor), Laxman B (Khemu) and Pritam (Chakraborty) as the head of the family. It so happens that the boys of both families are constantly at war until one fine day when a chance encounter between Geeta and Pritam changes their lives.

In a hilarious flashback sequence, Pritam is shown wooing Geeta with a ‘Disco Dancer’ number and love blooms. But as was the 1970s Bollywood trend, the big bad villain in the form of heroine’s rich Daddy (Prem, Prem Chopra) plays spoilsport and both are separated. Back in Goa where both now live with their adopted broods, Dabboo learns of their past liaison and convinces them to get defy societal norms and get married at last. All hell breaks loose when both the gangs, who harbour growing malice for each other, end up living under the same roof.

Though the storyline is quite sluggish and unimpressive, it is simply the slapstick comedy ingredient that makes Golmaal 3 an appetising film. A majority of the film has been evidently shot on humungous sets instead of natural locales, which somehow does not work well for the viewer. Besides, Lucky’s muted speech is not translated most of the times and Laxman A stutters and splutters to an annoyingly prolonged extent. An action sequence towards the end is pointlessly stretched. As a viewer, these instances make you a little withdrawn because monotony sets in and thrill takes a backseat.

The most compelling part of the film is when both the gangs clash on the silliest of issues; it’s gleeful to see both trying to trounce each other. It goes without saying that witty Golmaal-ish dialogues are responsible for having enriched the film in a way that makes it tolerable (and even enjoyable) to watch one without a strong plot. Also, what makes Golmaal 3 refreshingly captivating are the spoofs and puns that keep popping up throughout the film.

Kareena Kapoor looks magnificent with her glowing skin and higher than ever angular cheekbones. Devgn as a peevish ‘yeda’ is quite delightful, while Warsi blows you away with his comic antics as usual. Talpade and Kapoor look like they have jumped into Golmaal 3 straight from Golmaal Returns. Khemu, as the new entrant, fits in without much effort. Chakraborty and Shah are the real stars of the film, what with their little flashes from the past alongside 1970s’ Bollywood numbers like ‘Yaad aa rahahai…’ Johnny Lever is a pleasant surprise and is enchanting.

Go watch it, just leave your brains and woes at home!