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Khel Khel Mein – Akshay Kumar makes a triumphant return to comedy

The film is a localized retake of the Italian classic Perfetti Sconosciuti (Perfect Strangers)

Khel Khel Mein – Akshay Kumar makes a triumphant return to comedy

Poster for Khel Khel Main

IMDb

The simplistic plot of the film kept viewers on the edge of their seats

Khel Khel Mein is hilarious in some places and just plain ridiculous in others

Akshay Kumar seems underutilized, while Taapsee Pannu shines in her role

Akshay Kumar starrer Khel Khel Mein was released on Netflix over the weekend and has been trending at number one in Pakistan since. The film is a localized take on the Italian classic Perfetti Sconosciut (Perfect Strangers) and presents a harrowing albeit funny take on how surrendering the privacy of your phone can have adverse effects if one has something to hide.

The film is hilarious in some places and just plain ridiculous in others, something one expects before diving into any comedy with Akshay Kumar at its helm.

What Worked

The plot of the film, although fairly simple, was interesting enough to keep one on the edge of their seats. Comedic moments were fleshed out brilliantly with actors like Taapsee Pannu and Ammy Virk pulling in stellar performances. Akshay Kumar, in a George Clooney-ish avatar, fit the role of a wealthy, philandering doctor husband and pulled it off well, reminiscent of his character in 2004’s Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.

In addition to Kumar, Fardeen Khan portrays a playboy cricket coach who is secretly struggling in his life and does well. His performance adds depth to the ensemble cast and elevates the performances around him. The story plays out perfectly, exposing everyone in the room with everyone else's dirty laundry being aired publicly, leading to situations of true comic brilliance.

What Didn’t Work

While most of the moments in the film work brilliantly in terms of creating a comedic situation, some of them just become too illogical, even for someone who is expecting things to go off the rails for the sake of a laugh. Akshay Kumar has limited screen time, almost like an extended cameo, as if he's passing the torch to the next generation.

Aditya Seal as Samar and Pragya Jaiswal as his wife Naina also seem to have no chemistry among themselves. Jaiswal gives a compelling performance as Naina and plays the role of a spoilt rich brat without caricaturizing it. Despite that, her performance suffers from a lack of chemistry with Samar. Aditya Seal needs polishing and despite having a well-written character arc, he fails to bring his character to life.

Verdict

'Khel Khel Mein' has minor hiccups in an otherwise great story filled with laughs and drama. Its stellar writing, direction, and performances make it a fun watch for fans of Akshay Kumar’s brand of comedy.

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