By Rajat Srivastav, December 20, 2007 - 20:21 IST 12 of 18 people found this review helpful
Welcome is about gangsters, an auction house, a botched wedding, some re-unions Anil-Nana( Last seen Parinda 1989), Feroz-Anil ( Last seen Jaanbaaz 1986) and first hand combos(Akshay-Mallika, Akshay-Nana, Akshay- FK , sharing the screen space for the first time) . Some scenes though entirely lifted from Hugh Grant's Micky Eye Blues and some from the more recent caper Shaadi ke pehle and not to forget Om shaanti Om (movie within the movie with the same title), Welcome still brings in a whiff of comic freshness alongwith some whacky one-liners ( best lines reserved for Nana , Anil and partly Paresh).
Story quite obvious from the promos has funny but lengthy sequences in the first half with a few note-worthy ones( Anil-Akki meeting at the traffic signal, Anil's painting display to Nana, Ploy by Anil-Nana to trap Paresh and Akshay into a wed-lock, Akki's outburst with Anil after meeting with Nana.) First hour at best can be described as funny but replete with long sequences and show-stoppers which come in the form of songs ( hoth raseelay and Akshay-Katrina's first song with some kaal lokaa varee lyrics are not required at all).
Second half brings in FK, Mallika and the supremely talented Vijay Raaz , two good songs and whackier comedy as compared to the frst half ( Nana playing a kaandawaala, Nana on the horse-back, the entire crematorium sequence). The climax could have been much more funnier
Dubai is becoming a prominent feature in all Feroz Nadiadwala movies now- ( Deewane Hue Paagal, Fool and Final and now Welcome) and gives Welcome the glossy look. Only the title track Welcome, Tiyaa Tiyaa and Inshaallah (only be'coz of FK, Nana, Anil and Akki together) are worth a view out of the five tracks.
Movie clearly belongs to Anil in the first half and Nana in the second half with FK and Mallika doing the extended cameos. Paresh is whacky in bits and pieces but relegated to the backseat.
Akshay's role has nothin new to offer to his fans and they are in for a disappointment this time round ( though the film will surely do above average business) . How one wishes that Akshay's dialogues, one-liners and role could have been better handled ??( One would not even dream of fitting in a Shahrukh or a Hrithik or an Aamir in such a poorly written role; Remember Akshay belongs to the same league or maybe even bigger !!!.)
Katrina looks hot, Mallika hotter and FK's the hottest of the lot.
Neverthless with all its blemishes, its still worth a watch for its megacast, for Anee Bazmee's handling of comic stuff and for the screen chemistry shared by all possible combos Nana-Anil, Nana-Akshay Anil-Akshay etc.
Id and Christmas well help manage the movie's business afloat in the first week but the second week will face stiff weather from Taare Zameen par which will start doing better after a strong word-of-mouth.
What I liked about the movie:
Onscreen-chemistry between all the top male leads.
What I didn't like about the movie:
Songs in the first half, some stale comedy shots etc
Would you recommend this movie to your friend: Yes
