First-time director Raj Mehta’s comedy is built on the fear and insecurities of two couple of having to deliver a child that may not look like their own

By Mayur Lookhar

After Housefull 4 [2019], Akshay Kumar is set for another comedy. Unlike the Sajid Nadiadwala production, the Dharma Productions film has a core story to it.  First-time director Raj Mehta’s Good Newwz is built on a major medical good-up in carrying out two IVY [In Vitro Fertilisation] process.   Two couples – Kabir [Akshay Kumar] and Shruti [Kareena Kapoor Khan] and Honey [Diljit Dosanjh] and Monika [Kiara Advanai], both have opted to have a child through IVF process.   Kabir and Honey both carry the same surname and it is here that the hospital staff does the goof-up accidentally swapping Kabir and Honey’s sperms.

At the trailer launch, Akshay Kumar claimed that a couple of such incidents have taken place in real life. One doesn’t know how the concerned couples reacted in real life, but Raj Mehta’s Good Newwz is bordering on slapstick humour. “It doesn’t matter which direction a child has come from,” Kumar said at the trailer launch. Perhaps, that gives you a subtle hint as to how this film might end up.   Let’s leave the climax for 27 December. The more pertinent question now is how good is the Good Newwz trailer?

For starters, unlike the poor comedy Housefull 4 [2019], Good Newwz has a decent slice of life story at its heart. The additional ‘w’ in the title is attributed to Mehta, not Karan Johar.

Writer Jyoti Kapoor  and Mehta have a nice goofed-up tale and a stellar star cast.   Kumar shares the screen space with Advani and Dosanjh for the first time. Dosanjh had made his Bollywood debut with Udta Punjab [2016] where he was paired opposite Kapoor.  Over the years, Kumar’s has picked on diverse subjects. It’s perhaps a first off-the-cup story for Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has largely featured in formulaic films. She flaunted her baby bump proudly in the real life, however, it’s a different story for Kapoor in Good Newwz.  Both Advani and Kapoor are gripped by the fear of how their child will look?  Much of the humour will stem from the two couple’s fear and insecurities.

While the story idea is refreshing, the cliched humour in the trailer makes you a little weary of how the film will transpire.  Honey and Monika are coming across as the archetypal happy go-lucky dim wit Punjabi characters.  Dosanjh’s always longed to never to be part of stereotypes. One hopes Honey doesn’t turn out to be one.

Good Newwz will largely drive on the comedy of errors. The trailer doesn’t give, too, many genuinely humorous moments.  The image of Shruti’s child being born with the face of Honey underlines the fear of the couple aptly.  Kareena and Kumar were last paired together in full fledged roles in Kambakkth Ishq  [2009] and fans will hope one gets to see  a different, more natural chemistry this time.

Happiness will be delivered at the wrong address. That’s the catch line of the film.  The trailer is a little underwhelming but cinephiles will hope there will be plenty to cheer about Good Newwz on 27 December.

Watch the trailer of Good Newwz. 

Good Newwz is co-produced by Dharma Production, Cape of Good Hope, and Zee Studios.