Khel Khel Mein Movie Review: While Akshay Kumar 'plays' back to reclaim his crown as king of comedy, Fardeen Khan 'comes out' as the surprise package

Even though one may have heard of the film’s name Khel Khel Mein in the past (it was the late Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Kapoor starrer), the treatment given to the present-day film is what makes the film stand out and how! Just as the name suggests, this Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu multi-starrer starts of as a game... only to eventually culminate into a book which opens up the deepest and darkest ‘concealed’ secrets of the leading men and women in the film!

The film starts off with the introduction of Rishabh Malik (Akshay Kumar), a plastic surgeon by profession and an extremely smooth operator who has been blessed with the sweetest tongue that facilitates him to turn any situation in his favour by lying effortlessly! He is on his way to attend the marriage of his nephew Varun.

Also attending his marriage are the ‘Male’ Harpreet (Ammy Virk) and his wife ‘Female’ Harpreet (Taapsee Pannu), Rishabh’s wife Vartika (Vaani Kapoor) who is an author by profession, brand manager Samar (Aditya Seal) and his fiancée Naina (Pragya Jaiswal). Above all, there is Kabir (Fardeen Khan), a out of job sports coach.

Feeling bored with the marriage functions, all of the above couples and Kabir plan to accumulate in one room for a drink. It is here Vartika suggests a game that everyone can play. The game wherein everyone should surrender their mobiles on the table and in case of any call/s or message/s or email/s, he/ she should read it aloud before everyone. In the words of Vartika, till the dawn, everyone’s phone is no longer their private property, but, in the public domain of those who are present in the room.

Also Read: Khel Khel Mein motion poster out: Akshay Kumar’s fans excited as the actor returns to comedy...

Little did Vartika realise that, the game that she had started will eventually prove to be a game changer for many, including herself! What unexpected repercussions comes of the game and what are the dirty line (and of whom) gets washed in public is what forms the rest of the film.

First the good news. Akshay Kumar IS BACK… and how! For all those who had thought that this man had lost communication with the comic timing, this film will serve as a fitting reply to that! His act gets properly channelised with the almost perfect direction of Mudassar Aziz. There are places where the film seems to dip, but its Aziz’s direction which is well tuned with the film’s narrative, that boxes the film’s ears whenever it goes astray! The film’s cinematography is bang-on.

As per the reports, Khel Khel Mein has been based on / inspired by the Italian ‘dramedy’ Perfect Strangers. But, full points to Aziz for having ensured that, his film gets ‘tailor-made’ to suit the sense and sensibilities of the Indian audience!

The flip side of the good news is that, the film’s second half seems to be a dragged narrative. Even though the film’s first half establishes the film’s character, it seems like it was being done in a hurry. As they say, ‘All’s well that ends well’. Likewise, despite the ‘clustered introduction’, all of the characters in the film settle down seamlessly. The film’s editing could have been a bit tighter in the second half.

Also Read: Khel Khel Mein Trailer- Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Fardeen Khan, Vaani Kapoor’s INVITE each other to play a dangerous ‘mobile-game’!

There are no memorable songs or any hook steps in the film which can mentioned here. A special mention to the film’s situational one-liners that will have everyone roll on the floor with laughter! Full credit to the film’s writer for this!

As for the film’s performances, as stated, the film is out and out an ‘Akki-lucky’ film! In a film where there are ‘stars’, Akshay Kumar can be rightly called as a ‘pole star’! he is outstanding in his role. Be it his comical scenes (each one a gem), or his smooth talking (you need to see the film to find out what we are referring to), his serious act and his fatherly side (he will win your heart with his advice to his teenage daughter) …, this man is an out and out winner and the scene stealer of the film!

He is followed by a close second by Vaani Kapoor, who comes out with an extremely convincing performance as an author whose marital status is ‘on the rocks’ (no pun intended!). There’s Taapsee Pannu, who yet again, delivers a top-of-the-order performance. This ‘haseena’s performance is good enough to make her contemporaries sweat their ‘paseena’ if at all, that makes any sense!). But, her pre and post drinking scene is a killer! It just cannot get more natural than this one! Debutante Pragya Jaiswal and Aditya Seal are okay in their respective roles.

Amidst all this, there’s Ammy Virk! For all those who felt that his role in Bad Newz did not have enough meat, let us tell you his role in this film will make you see him on repeat! The way in which he has handled the tensed situations (with his dialogues as well as his silence) is exemplary! Above them all is the still-suave ‘Janasheen’ dude Fardeen Khan! After impressing everyone with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, he proves to be the turning point of this film. But will the film become the turning point of his comeback career is what remains to be seen!

There is just one way the film Khel Khel Mein will and can work at the box-office… word of mouth! A film like this will surely prove to be a sleeper hit, if it gets duly supported and promoted by word of mouth. And above all, it’s the return of the comic king Akshay Kumar, which can also prove to be a magnet for the audiences!

The roadblock, however could be in the form of the other two releases alongwith Khel Khel Mein, which are the John Abraham starrer Vedaa and the most awaited Shraddha Kapoor starrer Stree 2. Whatever be the case, all that we can say is, ‘May the best film win’!

Enjoy 35+ OTTs like ZEE5, LionsgatePlay, Ullu, SunNXT, SonyLIV, Fancode and 250+ Live TV channels at just ₹99