TOTAL DHAMAAL movie has released and here is the movie review. The third installment of the money spinning DHAMAAL film series which gets bigger with the inclusion of Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor, along with the key regulars Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi & Jaaved Jaaferi. Does Indra Kumar take the stakes of laughter and entertainment higher in the third installment/franchise of DHAMAAL? Let’s find out in the movie review of TOTAL DHAMAAL.
Does TOTAL DHAMAAL get boring at any point?
No, if you are a sucker for goofy, no brainers that are purely designed to make you laugh then TOTAL DHAMAAL is for you, it won’t bore you or make you go to sleep and snore.
What is the story of TOTAL DHAMAAL? What is this circus all about?
The story doesn’t have any iota of innovative glory, it’s the same template with increase in the amount of the treasure which increases from 10 cores to 50 crores (keeping up with times and inflation!). A dying man Pintu (Manoj Pahwa) reveals a secret about Rs 50 crore to a bunch of strangers – a Gujarati husband and a Maharashtrian wife – Avinash Patel (Anil Kapoor) and Bindu (Madhuri Dixit). Lallan (Riteish Deshmukh) and Jhingur (Pitobash Tripathy) are firemen who have lost their jobs as they are caught taking bribes. The happy-go-lucky Aditya Srivastav (Arshad Warsi) and his dim – witted brother Manav Srivastav (Jaaved Jaaferi), a conman Guddu (Ajay Devgn) and his partner Johnny (Sanjay Mishra), Police Commissioner Boman Irani is also after the same treasure. The greedy nine then get enrolled in a mad cap adventurer to reach the zoo first and claim the entire bounty.
TOTAL DHAMAAL laughter meter?
The percentage is around 70 plus with major giggles coming in the first half.
Which is better, DHAMAAL, DOUBLE DHAMAAL, TOTAL DHAMAAL?
In scale TOTAL DHAMAAL is better and more ambitious, like the previous installments, this one also tries to chip in a message and its love for wild life/animals. Gags in previous installments were much better and the latest installment lacks in the novelty factor.
Script Analysis
The writing by Ved Prakash, Paritosh Painter and Bunty Rathore is predictable but it assures that the laughter keeps coming without fail. It is designed for the lovers of such genre who don’t mind a complete suspension of disbelief to enjoy a goofy, mad cap adventure and the movie delivers on its harmless silliness. The writers make sure that the jokes don’t go crude and vulgar. The climax portion and the entire sequence in zoo will appeal to kids and grownups with an inclination towards childish fun and love for animals. It does get emotional for a bit as well.
Indra Kumar’s direction
Indra Kumar has maintained the old school format and has kept the legacy of such clean no brainers alive. The best part is that the maker of MASTI series makes sure that TOTAL DHAMAAL is a clean family entertainer that tries to push a message of love, care and humanity. Indra Kumar skillfully handles his huge ensemble cast of renowned & popular actors who have proved their mettle in comedy as well and the director gives everybody the required space, sequence and punches. TOTAL DHAMAAL is not overpowered by any of these big names – Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit; everyone gets a special moment even those friends in the zoo.
Performances
Ajay Devgn is complete fun bang-on with his expressions and known swag. Anil Kapoor is outstanding. Madhuri Dixit is spontaneous and shows her calibre of perfect coming timings. Riteish Deshmukh is an entertainer and he proves it nicely. Arshad Warsi is funny. Jaaved Jaaferi is hilarious to the core. Boman Irani is fantastic as usual. Johny Lever is awesome. Esha Gupta has her moments. Sonakshi Sinha in ‘Mungda’ song is plain okay.
From the supporting cast, Vijay Patkar, Sanjay Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Pitobash, Sudesh Lehri, Srikant Maski chip in with good support. And last but not the least, a shout for the cute Crystal the monkey (Zoo security official) toh banta hai and apna bidu aka Jackie Shroff’s GPS voice over is hilarious.
Technical analysis
A comedy is incomplete without a proper background score and Sandeep Shirodkar’s background score enhances the feel. Keiko Nakahara’s cinematography is fine. NY VFXWaala’s VFX is better when animals are shown. Dharmendra Sharma’s editing is fine.
Music
Gourov-Roshin’s music doesn’t have anything to take home apart from the remix of ‘Paisa Yeh Paisa’ from KARZ.
Flaws
Now, if you search for logics in TOTAL DHAMAAL, you will end up scratching your head and blaming yourself for expecting such things from a mad cap no brainer genre. This one will be an easy target for seekers for depth in art/cinema and haters of buffoonery. Coming to the genre thing, TOTAL DHAMAAL willingness to keep relaxing in the same comfort zone, sticking to the same template and maintaining the playing safe attitude just to ensure fat returns does raise questions. Looking at the scale and talents TOTAL DHAMAAL has roped in this time and stakes available, anything could have been achieved. How many times will you repeat the same formula?
Final words
All said and done, TOTAL DHAMAAL is filled with whacky, mad laughter and the inspired buffoonery is consistent with entertaining acts by Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit, Anil Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi and co. the gags and laughter plus the message in the end makes sure that TOTAL DHAMAAL remains on track as a harmless no brainer clean family entertainer. You will leave the theatre with a smile on your face and that’s what we need today in these troubled times.
