While Hollywood has films like Thelma & Louise (1991), Oceans Eight (2018), Widow (2018) and Hustlers (2019), you will be surprised to know that the Hindi film industry never tapped into making a comedy heist that is led by an all-female cast. Although Bollywood had its “sexual awakening” a long time back with films that aptly explore female pleasure, we rarely have made films that showcase female characters beyond being an embodiment of glitz and glamour. However, with the announcement of Crew and its stellar cast, everyone was excited to see whether the movie would hit the ballpark or not.
A look at the trailer of Crew, and you will understand that the comedy heist movie has all the suitable elements for a blockbuster hit including a great cast, an engaging plotline and a capable director. But has this combination worked for the film? Read our review of Crew to find out if the movie is worth a watch in theatres or not.
Crew movie review: What works and doesn’t work for the film
The cast of Crew features Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. The supporting cast includes stars like Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee and Trupti Khamkar. The film is helmed by Rajesh Krishna, known for his directorial debut film Lootcase, and is backed by Ekta Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Digvijay Purohit under Balaji Motion Pictures and Anil Kapoor Films & Communication Network.
The story revolves around three diligent flight attendants who are a part of the cabin crew for Kohinoor Airlines. Geeta Sethi (Tabu) is the in-flight supervisor, Jasmine Rana (Kareena Kapoor Khan) is the senior flight attendant and Divya Bajwa (Kriti Sanon) is the junior flight attendant working for Vijay Walia’s (pun-intended) Kohinoor Airlines that is going bankrupt. Frustrated with their mundane, middle-class life and the problems that come with it, the three ladies decide to take risks and change their fate. What starts as a fun ride, soon faces major turbulences, forcing them to plan a crazy, preposterous heist. Do they manage to pull it off? Is the build-up to the heist worth your time? Let’s find out.
What works for the movie?
Crew is a simple, no-glossy-drama, fun movie that works on many levels. Before we can even dive into the moviemaking bit of the movie, I think mentioning how good Kareena Kapoor Khan looks in the movie is quintessential. Credits to the costume department of the movie and Kapoor’s charm, you will not be able to take your eye off her throughout the film. Her character, Jasmine, is also the driving force of the film where we see Bebo being her natural self on the screen. You will surely be entertained by Jasmine and her quirky antics.
Having said that, we cannot overlook the grace that Tabu brings to the story with her character, Geeta. Her camaraderie with the cast of Crew makes the movie even more satisfying. Kriti Sanon as Divya is the most relatable character in the film. The three divas have upped the glam quotient of the film, but Crew thankfully is more than just showcasing them as three pretty ladies struggling in life.
Although the film has several loopholes that may disappoint the audience, you will want to overlook that because the film has not portrayed the characters as sorry figures. Yes, they have day-to-day, realistic struggles that everyone can relate to, but no, they are not sobbing about it. Rather, they are having fun, committing innocuous crimes and planning a heist to make things right. What adds more charm to the film are the peppy songs composed by Diljit Dosanjh, Badshah, Raj Ranjodh, Vishal Mishra, Akshay–IP, Bharg–Rohit.
What does not work for the film?
While Crew is a fun movie to watch, there are a few things that make the film weak. Firstly, with stars like Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Rajesh Sharma and Trupti Khamkar in the film, the little screen space does no justice to their talents. These actors have spot-on comic timing and it seems like their craft was killed here. Saswata Chatterjee as the prototype Vijay Mallya also deserved better.
Rajesh Krishnan previously gained critical acclaim for his dark comedy film Lootcase. Anyone who has seen the Kunal Kemmu starrer knows what Krishnan is capable of. Unfortunately, the director did not get a chance to showcase his distinctive directorial style as the writing overthrew that aspect of the film with weak jokes and an insipid script. Crew starts on an engaging note, soars high in the sky, but suddenly crashes down as soon as you come back to the theatre after the interval.
Is the film worth a watch?
A 100%. I mean who would mind watching Kareena Kapoor Khan in her Poo element on the big screen. The film is packed with moments that will make the whole theatre laugh in unison. Kapil Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh are some of the most charming men in the world and this film proves why. Tabu is an icon and will remain an icon. It’s pleasant to see Kriti match the energy of these two legendary actresses. The film is a great escape from reality, and a typical Bollywood movie is just about that, so it’s definitely worth streaming, if you ask us.
Our verdict: ☆☆☆☆
Watch Crew on Netflix here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the movie Crew about?
The movie revolves around three flight attendants who land in trouble after they start smuggling gold while working as cabin crew for an airline. The cast of the Crew movie includes Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Kriti Sanon in lead roles.
– Where is Crew movie available?
The film is available to stream on Netflix now.
All Images: Courtesy IMDb
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
