"Welcome" is a enjoyable, masala comedy with an amusing cast. It has plenty of ridiculously unbelievable, cheesy moments and the film requires viewers who don't take themselves or the movie too seriously, and who know how to suspend their disbelief. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who are unable to take the movie in the spirit it was made. Is it full of buffoons and a silly plot? Of course! But what makes this movie so charming is that - like plenty of other Bollywood films - it tells its story with such sincere, earnest conviction that you can't help but get sucked in.
The story is centered on a mafia family headed by two dons, played by the unfailingly charismatic Feroz Khan and the gifted Nana Patekar. Nana Patekar is trying to find a boy from a nice, decent family to marry his sister, played by Katrina Kaif (surprisingly, she is tolerable in this film). Aiding the don in his quest to find a suitable boy is one of Nana Patekar's lesser dons, played by Anil Kapoor. When they find a suitable boy (Akshay Kumar), things are complicated by the suitable boy's uncle (Paresh Rawal), who is not terribly excited about his nephew marrying into the mafia. And from this tangled web of conflicting goals ensues chaos and mayhem. Mallika Sherawat is also entertaining (if extremely confusing) as a random girl who is...confusing people.
It's a silly movie full of childish, mischievous comedy and feel-good moments, but I think that, in the end, that's what we value about Bollywood films: their family-friendly messages, the dazzling spectacle in scene after scene, fun filled madness and a talented cast. Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal were especially impressive and quite adorable. It was amusing to see Akshay Kumar play a clueless good guy after being so used to seeing him as an action hero.
The only way to enjoy this movie is to throw brains and common sense out the window and enjoy it for what it is - a family-friendly comedy with lots of laughs and entertainment. It's a question of expectations. If you get this movie expecting to see something similar to a Hollywood film, then you will disappointed. Bollywood isn't anything like Hollywood, and there is nothing wrong with that. I didn't get this DVD expecting to see an Indian version of The Godfather. There are plenty of funny references to The Godfather in this movie, but the director clearly intends to parody the world and lifestyle of a mafia don, and I think he did a good job. It's a happy story that laughs at itself at every turn, and that's great.
