Bollywood News - Review: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan deliver solid 'Good Newwz'

Aden - Yasmine El Tohamy - In theory a movie that revolves around the goof-ups of an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedure could go either way. It's a serious enough subject that if handled wrongly could end in sticky territory. But in debutant director Raj Mehta's hands Good Newwz offers up a delightfully funny yet sensitive watch.

The credit, of course, goes to strong writing and an excellent cast led by Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani.

When a fertility clinic run by IVF specialists Dr Joshi (Adil Hussain) and his wife (Tisca Chopra) mistakenly interchange the sperms of two sets of wannabe parents, Varun and Deepti (Akshay and Kareena) and Honey and Monika (Diljit and Kiara) who both share the same surname, Batra, the couples are in a quandary. While the loud, boisterous and pretty much sterotyped Pubjabi couple Honey and Monika come to terms with it, Varun and Deepti have a harder time accepting the mix up.

The first half is a laugh fest, mainly due to Akshay and Diljit's capers. The second half veers towards emotional territory before returning to the comic theme. All in all the makers are able to maintain a fine balance between the emotional aspect of the subject matter and the humourous side of it.

Akshay is in top form as the commitment phobic CEO of a Automibile showroom, who isn't sure if he wants a baby for the right reason or merely because of societal pressure. Kareena, looking ever so gorgeous, plays a senior journalist consumed by her career, though admittedly the high point of her job in the span of the one year that we are shown, is an interview with Katrina Kaif!

Kiara Advani as the simple girl from Chandigarh, with complete faith in the divine power, is cute and on point.

But it's Diljit who undoubtedly steals the scene  with his boisterous act. As a concerned father-to-be, he is highly emotional and sensible at the same time.

While the issues surrounding IVF procedure and its complications have been handled sensitively, the high point of the movie is Deepti's speech on the sacrifices made by a mother-to-be and the toll it takes on a woman's body.

Good Newwz is definitely a must-watch for those who enjoy laugh-out-loud movies.

In spite of IVF specialists having reservations about how the subject has been dealt with in the movie (the mix up), Good Newwz in its own way also plays a part in demystifying the taboos around the procedure. It also hopefully opens up conversations about the issue of infertility faced by many modern couples.Though, we have to admit, it does great disservice to another highly sensitive subject matter, adoption, when Kiara's character, who is undergoing a difficult pregnancy, goes on a spiel about how blood is thicker than water.

If you are looking for a feel good movie with an emotional connect, then Good Newwz is definitely for you. [email protected]

Movie: Good Newwz

Director: Raj Mehta

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani, Diljit Dosanjh, Adil Hussain, Tisca Chopra

Rating: 3.5 out of 5