Pati Patni Aur Woh Do

Despite its promising premise and capable performers, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do gets too tangled in its own confusion to deliver consistent laughs.

Despite one of the most interesting ensembles of recent times, which features some of the most dependable actors we have in the country today, Director Musassar Aziz is let down by a lifeless script. It is not a film about infidelity, but it is not a comedy of errors either. It almost comes close to becoming a comedy of terrors.

If only Pati Patni Aur Woh Do were as funny as its director clearly intended it to be, that would have been another reason to celebrate. The film suffers from a severe shortage of genuinely funny one-liners and the screenplay lacks the sharpness needed for situational comedy to consistently land.

Mudassar Aziz instructs the cast to perform in a highly exaggerated manner and deliver every line at high volume. Shouting out the dialogue doesn't make it funnier. Nor does slathering loud music in the background. Aziz, who directed the delightful Happy Bhag Jayegi all those moons ago, hasn't found the right pitch for his sly take on conventional morality ever since.

At its best, the farce works as low-stakes popcorn entertainment but completely detaches itself from the grounded, socially progressive legacy of the parent banner. By keeping the protagonist innocent and merely a victim of circumstances, the film dilutes its own conflict, resulting in a safe, ultimately forgettable comedy.

Ayushmann Khurrana hams it up as a forest guard trapped in a fake-cheating tangle involving three women, one man and one clueless wolf