Welcome

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Mallika Sherawat, Feroz Khan

Director: Anees Bazmi

Welcome has very little plot, and no sense, just the right ingredients for a slap-up mindless comedy. It has Funny Macho Man Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar as a mobster with anger management issues, and Anil Kapoor as a hood who likes to paint. And Mallikaaaah. Anees Bazmi's latest manages to drum up laughter here and there, but it isn't rolling-in-the-aisles funny.

Ganglord Nana can't find a worthy groom for little sis Katrina, despite his faithful henchman Anil trying his hardest. In walks our hero Askhay, who starts blushing and giggling at the sight of Kat: at one point, he even hides his face in his hands, ha ha (Akki needs to watch out because his act is beginning to pall). Out pops uncle Paresh, who doesn't want a mob boss's behen (gotta be a moll, right?) as his khandaan ki bahu. In sashays Mallika as, actually, don't ask, it's complicated. And the outrageously dull Feroz Khan, in his trademark bald pate. And a bunch of goons, including the sadly-underutilised Vijay Raaz.

So it's partly Mickey Blue Eyes, from which the story has been stolen, and partly Anees Bazmi, who needs to come up with better lines, tighter comic situations. And with a climax which doesn't remind us how his previous outing No Entry ended. Enter this one with low expectations. Stay on for a few chuckles, for Anil's comic timing, and Nana, who's completely hilarious.