Remaining true to its title, thankfully this time we have the good news of a film being a thorough entertainer tackling a novel and risky subject of sperm mix-up in a reputed fertility clinic known for IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization).
Focusing on Akshay-Kareena as a couple facing the issue since years, GOOD NEWWZ keeps bringing in smiles and some timely laughter in its initial 40 minutes along with explaining the concept of IVF in a simple language. But the tables actually get turned, the moment Diljit and Kiara enter the script as the Punjabi couple opting for the process in the same clinic. And right from his first hilarious scene onwards, a second lead brought in after 40 minutes into the narration, truly becomes the soul of the film, dwarfing everyone else on screen including Akshay Kumar.
So whether one likes it, supports it or promotes it or not (intentionally skipping the credit), GOOD NEWWZ largely belongs to Diljit taking it forward as a thoroughly enjoyable comedy well supported by Kareena, Kiara, Akshay, Adil Hussain and Tisca Chopra in that specific order. Kareena certainly surprises you with an appreciable performance emotionally pointing towards the unimaginable pain a woman has to go through becoming the mother and Kiara does it well in her limited scenes playing the innocent Punjabi girl. Akshay surely manages to impress in his one particular sequence (wherein he keeps laughing continuously), but overall comes up with a mix of routine and over-the-top mannerisms as well as face-making which we have repeatedly seen many times before. Having said that, here we still have an Akshay doing much better comedy in comparison to his infamous HOUSEFULL series.
But then, the truth remains that GOOD NEWZZ largely turns out to be good due to Diljit Dosanjh alone and the singer turned actor, yet again proves that Punjabi singers can be dependable versatile actors too doing a PUNJAB 1984, UDTA PUNJAB, SAJJAN SINGH RANGROOT, SOORMA and GOOD NEWWZ together in a span of just few years. To be honest, its time Diljit stops doing completely avoidable and utter crap films like WELCOME TO NEW YORK, SHADAA, ARJUN PATIALA and more making some better and careful choices.
Sharing the gist GOOD NEWWZ is an innovative, brave and hilarious urban entertainer with a winning first half giving you enough to praise. But the second half certainly dips because of some obvious, predictable and less justifying drama leading to an unconvincing conclusion.
At the same time, one doesn’t get time to complain while watching the film as it keeps moving at a good pace, doesn’t allow any lengthy scope for the emotional tear-worthy moments and deliberately goes back to the comic presentation as a made to order, light entertaining film exactly following the format of many recent similar hits.
So if you are just interested in having a good time in the theater in the festival or holiday weekend then go for it as a must since the film is a perfect recipe for the same. Plus the review also finishes here for the friends who are not willing to go any deep in their weekly cinema or movie watching.
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For friends who wish to read something of the beyond then there is a lot GOOD NEWWS actually points towards our society and the present film-making too which has taken the word “Casual Entertainment” too seriously and sacredly.
To begin with, GOOD NEWWS exactly represents the mainstream Hindi films being made at the present following a typical, less-risky format. As a matter of fact, that is the way production houses demand these films to be made by their hired directors. And this term, ‘hired directors’ should also indicate a lot towards our present process of filmmaking.
Anyway, a fresh innovative topic (preferably hitting a taboo), dealt in a light comical manner without going deep, avoiding many emotional scenes or tears, largely presented as a COMEDY is the recipe of such films since last few years.
Giving the deserving due, the one man – both the industry and the audience need to thank for turning the tide for such films is Shoojit Sircar and his team – who brought the much needed change with his VICKY DONOR……. which was NOT JUST A COMEDY.
If truth be told, then the major difference between Shoojit and the present formats of weekend hits is the lack of emotions and a justified-convincing climax which is not be found in most of these new-age money-churners. You don’t find the subtle emotions, sensitivity and sensibility in these films as they forcibly try to remain a comedy right till the end along with adding the emotional quotient in the script just for the sake of it. As a result the final 20-30 minutes of these films always turn out to be a spoil-sport, underwhelming and much less satisfying than the expectations raised, which was never there in VICKY DONOR.
For instance, in GOOD NEWWZ the most unconvincing and poorly written part of the film is the way Akshay suddenly turns emotional and breaks down as if the director hurriedly thought of finishing off the film, forgetting all about his earlier stiff and rather cunning or mean character in the script. And then such a horrifying and shocking case of inserting the sperm in different mothers gets sorted so easily in the end as if it was a simple milk-bottle exchange instead of a sperm-exchange.
In addition, it’s really strange the way GOOD NEWWS deals with the reference of ADOPTION in its dialogues supporting the age old social conception of “Khoon To Mera Hi Hona Chahiye”, which eventually also remains the key reason of “Honour Killings”. Give it a deep thought.
In fact the film happens to be both conservative and progressive at the same time displaying the lack of clarity. At one end it discards Adoption as a solution in a quite avoidable dialogue that should have been expressed differently. But on the other does positively counter another burning issue of the desire of having a boy-child that is quite evidently found in the Punjabi families.
Interestingly a simple one line dialogue could have sorted it all if one couple (Akshay-Kareena) would have said the ‘Mera Khoon’ dialogue and the other Kiara-Diljit couple had said,
“We want two kids. One from IVF process and one from Adoption. If from IVF we get a boy then we will next adopt a girl. And if from IVF we get a girl then also we would go for adopting another girl as Honey Ji wishes to have daughters.”
This one line dialogue would have surely turned the film into a pure progressive attempt.
But then another aspect the writers and director should have made pretty clear is the success ratio of IVF process which is not that postive and sure shot as shown in the film.
In other words, GOOD NEWWZ is a kind of movie that will be unanimously liked by a big majority of audience due to its humour element brilliantly standing out, willfully ignoring or avoiding the emotional element and the depth required by its otherwise scary story-plot.
It’s an intentional comedy made to please the audience tackling a novel and bold subject directed by Raj Mehta, which successfully serves the purpose led by Diljit from the front.
Rating : 3.5 / 5
Note: Once again exploiting the festival or holiday weekend, the multiplexes (along with the makers), increased the ticket prices as usual, taking their viewers/customers for granted.
That is exactly the practice BTC has been opposing since long. To be specific, (clearing the confusion of many), higher ticket prices at multiplexes - is one thing that can still be accepted as per the quality services offered. But increasing the prices every time a big film comes on festivals, holiday weekends and even in normal Fridays, is sheer exploitation of the ticket buyers and nothing else.
So as per BTC tradition one star gets deducted from every such film’s ratings due to the timely increased prices taking the viewers for granted.
Hence the Net Rating is : 2.5 / 5
