‘Crew’ (2024) Movie Review - Funny, Sexy, Entertaining

Rajesh A Krishnan made his directorial debut with Lootcase, which had Kunal Khemu. Khemu recently made his directorial debut with Madgaon Express, which focuses on the (mis)adventures of three male friends when they accidentally come across drugs. Krishnan's new film, Crew, is about the (mis)adventures of three female friends when they accidentally come across gold. Both movies come under the comedy genre. Both movies have talented actors in them. Moreover, both films also consist of echo moments. In Madgaon Express, a cop is scolded for spitting on a wall. Later, we see a wall that encourages everyone to spit on it. The callbacks in Crew, though, are comparatively more than those in Madgaon Express. They are used as jokes as well as plot convenience.

If I had to pick between the two films, I would definitely choose Crew. I didn't exactly find myself rolling down the aisles, but this film is incredibly pleasing, charming, and funny enough to make you smile. The story, especially the first half, joyously moves between the past and the present. This keeps the audience in doubt and in suspense. Krishnan maintains a swift momentum that never lets any scene overstay its welcome. I could have done without some sound cues and closeup shots that are employed to underline the humor. Nonetheless, Crew is so entertaining and filled with cheerfulness that it holds your attention from the beginning to the end.

Everything is effectively laid out on the table. We observe the daily routine of the air hostesses as they navigate through pesky children, lewd behavior, and inconsiderate passengers to do their work. They make sure everybody on the flight is comfortable. For their time and hospitality, these people are paid peanuts. One air hostess has to pay off her loan, while another has to ensure her kid remains in private school. It's impossible to fulfill all these tasks without sufficient moolah. The Kohinoor company, run by Vijay Walia (Saswata Chatterjee), is certainly not helping their hard-working employees. So when Geeta (Tabu), Divya (Kriti Sanon), and Jasmine (Kareena Kapoor) find a dead man with a chest full of gold, they decide to enter a shady business. You, after all, cannot use morality to pay bills.

It's all fun and games before the interval. Post-interval, things threaten to become too serious. At first, tragedy is seen through the rearview mirror. Later, it comes close to the characters. Krishnan, thankfully, doesn't spend too much time on pathos. He quickly moves towards the lighthearted zone, giving us amusing scenes like a chase sequence that unfolds at a market (its conclusion cracked me up).

Tabu, Sanon, and Kapoor are terrific together. Their presence infuses the film with a wonderful, comic charge. It's tough to pick a favorite among them. The three actresses give crime a sexy, silly, attractive face, which is why you are always rooting for them. It's so good to see Sanon in a film that's not as terrible as either Ganapath or Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. She deserves to be in movies that are as excellent as her talent. But what makes Crew even better is how it treats other actors. Kapil Sharma, Diljit Dosanjh, and Pooja Bhamrrah get characters that, with their seriousness, balance out the cartoonish mannerisms of the three main air hostesses. Even with little screen time, they manage to strongly register their presence. Look out for the actress who plays the role of Mrs. Mittal and that girl who is restrained by duct tape in a private plane towards the end. They do some awesome things here (I loved how the girl used her face to call the pilot). All in all, the time spent with this crew is worth every second.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times