Paying Guests

Paying Guests directed by Paritosh Painter is a comedy that's based on a premise so weak, you'll just about muster up a few chuckles; don't expect this film to make you laugh.Javed Jaffrey, Shreyas Talpade and Ashish Chaudhary play three Indian friends in Pattaya who lose their jobs at the same time and soon after find themselves kicked out of the apartment they share, by their cranky landlord played by Asrani. Now they have no roof over their heads, no money for rent, and to add to it, a fourth friend (played by Vatsal Sheth) has landed up to bunk with them. Obviously our heroes never consider selling off their trendy clothes and fancy watches and using that money for rent - no, if they did that, this stupid film would end right there.What happens instead - rather conveniently - is that they come across an Indian couple - played by Johnny Lever and Delnaz Paul - who are happy to rent out a room against zero deposit, but only to married couples. Borrowing the oldest trick in the Bollywood Book of Clichés, Shreyas Talpade and Javed Jaffrey go drag and pretend to be the wives of the other two. The landlords are fooled and the room is obtained. But the hiccups start when their girlfriends begin to show up one by one.Everything about this film feels recycled - the juvenile plot, the tired jokes, even the performances by the leads. You've seen this kind of film many times before and there's virtually nothing novel being offered here. Writer-director Paritosh Painter resorts to every overused gag to draw the laughs - Gujarati characters mispronouncing words, your staple gay jokes, double-meaning dialogue, slapstick set-ups, and the standard trick involving tennis balls-for-breasts. None of it is very funny. The girls in the film - Celina Jaitley, Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen and Sayali Bhagat - not exactly Bollywood's answer to the Streeps and Sarandons, have precious little to do but flaunt their curves. Of the men, it's only Shreyas Talpade who shows any spark for comic timing; and Johnny Lever can always be counted on to deliver a few genuinely funny moments.That aside, Paying Guests is a rather painful picture that completely fails to even engage you. You couldn't care less what happens to the characters in the end. Sadly, they all go home smiling. You wish you could too.This film is strictly for those who enjoy inflicting pain on themselves.

Not knowing what this was about, I must say it was a pleasant surprise as it wasn't really advertised at all and especially on TV channels. Three men loose their jobs but when a fourth joins them, they are thrown out of their rented accommodation as well and over night have to find a place to stay. And they do but there is surprise in for one of the man as well as certain conditions..

Starring Shreyas Talpade, Celina Jaitley, Javed Jaffrey, Neha Dhupia, Johnny Lever, Asrani, Chunky Pandey, Paintal, Sayali Bhagat, Riya Sen, Delnaaz Paul and Ashish Choudhary. This is directed by Pantosh Painter and Subash Ghai.

Good acting by all the cast and this can be seen very clearly on the screen and its also nice to see Johnny Lever back after a long time. Shreyas Talpade, from the beginning, along with Javed Jaffrey, Ashish Choudhary and Johnny Lever, goes full steam ahead in this comedy genre movie and there are scenes with him and Johnny Lever, that has one in stitches of laughter. This is very well supported by Javed Jaffrey and Ashish Choudhary and would say that all the cast have an equal role in this movie.

There are moments that have echoes of "Dostana" but this is different and is a change from the other movies this year. It is one of the better ones to watch and have a good laugh and enjoy.

A Good comedy and worth watching.

Four comic characters out for an accommodation hunt falls into intricate hurdles. Johnny Lever, the owner puts across a caveat,would only rent the place to couples. The guys give in to the condition laid by the owner and scrambles to materialize their wives. An average film with an average cast.

Johnny Lever never fails to amuse and entertain with his antics. But the tempo of the movie is lost in no time and dips very soon. There are no rib-tickling comedy here folks. Be prepared to get bored soon. An average movie with a below average comedy.

Paritosh Painter seems to have debuted on a slide. Let's pray his next direction bails him out.

A great Directorial Debut for Paritosh. After Dhamaal (which was again an amazing film), Paritosh couldn't have delivered better. I think a better cast could have helped the movie to get more eye balls. Shreyas, Javed, Johnny Lever, Chunkey have delivered good performances. Ashish, Vatsal could have been avoided. The humor is good. Specially the scene when Neha comes home to meet Ashish is hilarious. Even the pregnancy scene is damn good. The climax was not a novelty (Something similar to Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron) but still works for me. Over all a entertaining film. You will have fun. Don't think too much, Its a comedy not a thought provoking film.

A remake of the Marathi film Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi, 'Paying Guests' is A Fair Comedy, that appeals in parts.

'Paying Guests' Synopsis: Four friends' attempts to find employment and accommodation pits them against landlords and gangsters in Bangkok.

The humor in 'Paying Guests' is over-the-top & zany, it' will appeal only to those who enjoy escapist & non-sensible comedies. To give the film it's due, some sequences do work, particularly when the men turn into drags.

The Adapted Screenplay is good, in parts. Paritosh Painter's Direction is passable. Cinematography captures the exotic locales of Pattaya, nicely. Editing is fair.

Performance-Wise: Jaaved Jaffrey is impressive, as ever. Shreyas Talpade does not deliver. Aashish Chaudhary is okay. Vatsal Seth gives his best shot. Neha Dhupia, Celina Jaitley, Sayali Bhagat & Riya Sen lend support. Johny Lever, Paintal & Chunky Pandey are in their elements.

On the whole, 'Paying Guests' is a one time watch.