Housefull 4 movie review and rating: Critics' unimpressed by Akshay Kumar-starrer

Multi-starrer Housefull 4 is one of the most anticipated Bollywood movies of this year. The film has a huge star cast comprising Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Pooja Hegde and Kriti Kharbanda.

As Housefull has been a highly successful franchise, hopes with the fourth instalment were also high. However, the film failed to impress the critics.

A special screening of the film was held before its official release, following which may positive words for the movie poured in on social media. Many celebrities who have watched the film praised Housefull 4, calling it a laughter-riot.

But most of the critics' review of Housefull 4 has been negative. According to the majority of the critics, the movie is loaded with backdated kind of jokes, which are too stale to make you laugh. Although Akshay's performance is being appreciated to some extent, the overall film gets bad rating from the experts.

Read some of the critics' review of Housefull 4 below:

India Today: Endless sexist and homophobic jokes (courtesy Chunky and Johnny's banter), yelling, screaming and mind-numbing minutes later, true love wins. We think. Because there were dramatic looks exchanged and a part of a romantic song between the original 1419 couples. We are not sure because the girls look interchangeable. We even tried to look for a story, but that was nowhere to be found. (1*/5*)

NDTV: These tricks are too stale and superficial to salvage a sad spectacle designed to take the audience for a ride. Hop on if you wish, but don't say you weren't warned. (1*/5*)

Hindustan Times: Housefull 4 is quite the comic extravaganza that offers you a heavy dose of laughter this festive season. Watch it if you are a fan of Housefull franchise and, of course, Akshay Kumar, who seems to be getting better with age.

The Hindu: The original director of the film, Sajid Khan, may have been replaced following the #MeToo allegations but the sexist humour continues to thrive under the baton of Farhad Samji. There are double entendres galore and women reduced to commodities for male consumption. Worse are the crass jokes directed at the queer community. Sample: an effeminate guy is referred to as the one "jisne gender ka tender nahin bhara". What's most troubling, however, is that you could be the only sadu (grumpy), traumatised aunty in the multiplex desperate to make a dash towards the exit at the end the film, while the rest of the audience could well be having a jolly good time. Your feeling of being held hostage could well be another's volitional captivity.