Friday Night Plan (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – When their mother takes off on a business trip, two bickering brothers unite to secretly attend the hottest party of the year before she returns.

My Take – Following his spellbinding debut in last year’s criminally under-seen ‘Qala‘, Babil Khan is back with a new Netflix feature, however this time around he appears in a more conventional role, reaffirming conviction that like his father, the late masterclass actor Irrfan Khan, that he too plans to be performer who likes to mix things up.

Set as a simple coming-of-age comedy inspired by Hollywood classics such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Project X (2012), and Superbad (2007), this Excel Entertainment production marks the latest addition to the growing stack of Young Adult aimed streaming content and for those who share a similar affection for them, the influences make for a welcome homage.

Yes, written and directed by debutante Vatsal Neelakantan, the film isn’t exactly groundbreaking in its originality and the execution is simple, yet it’s underlying theme of self-discovery and the love between sibling’s shines through, making it sweet and delightful enough to keeps us smiling throughout.

By deftly exploring a range of characters and situations, and by masterfully balancing the humor and heart, the feature finds itself filled with numerous laugh-out-loud moments intertwined with touching emotional scenes. Making it a decent reminder of the times when films weren’t only about scale or about messaging, but about just providing a good time.

Set in Mumbai, the story follows Siddharth “Sid” Menon (Babil Khan) and his younger brother Aditya “Adi” Menon (Amrith Jayan), who live with their widowed working mother (Juhi Chawla). While Sid, often known as ‘Shitty Sid,’ is the quintessential nerdy outsider who refuses to conform to high school norms, Adi’s unbridled enthusiasm contrasts starkly.

Sid’s focus is squarely on college applications, but he is no hurry. He is wary of going wrong. It is not a day too soon for him to learn to chill and throw caution to the wind, if only occasionally. He is so reserved that has barely been noticed by anyone in his school for years.

On the other hand, Adi is far more adventurous. He is forever up to mischief, a trait that Sid frowns upon. However, Sid’s life turns upside down when he scores the winning goal for his team in an inter-school football match. All of a sudden, he becomes the most sought-after guy in school and starts getting the kind of attention that he has never got in his life.

Even earning him an invitation to the exclusive Friday night party at the residence of popular girl Natasha “Nat” Sabharwal (Medha Rana). And with their mother leaving for an overnight business meeting in Pune, the brothers find themselves navigating a night of decisions and mayhem on their own.

Sure, the premise is a trope, as are all coming-of-age themes, but what is endearing about Vatsal Neelakantan‘s directorial is that it is honest and innocent. As a film, it doesn’t aspire to convey lofty messages or grand ambitions. Its simplicity is its charm, which becomes evident in the opening scene itself when we see Sid grooving to a tune while going about his morning chores.

It offers a realistic portrayal of teenage life, capturing the awkwardness, excitement, and uncertainties of adolescence through believable and relatable characters. In today’s cuss-words-and-copulating-couples streaming scenario, this one is an enchanting aberration.

Central to the narrative is the celebration of brotherhood; the bond between Siddharth and Aditya serves as the film’s emotional core, making it delightful to witness their relationship deepen as the story unfolds. Their issues aren’t world-shattering, but they’re still significant and relatable. Sid sees his brother as irresponsible, while Adi views him as excessively uptight and mature for his age.

Somewhere beneath it all, there’s the shadow of a family tragedy, subtly hinted at in the opening credits as the camera pans across family photographs of the protagonists. Unsurprisingly, the events of the night reshape their perspectives of each other, leaving the audience with a heartwarming feeling.

Despite the short runtime, as a writer Vatsal Neelakantan does an excellent job of etching out the primary characters, giving nuanced layers to each one’s personality. The best part about the film is that you end up watching the whole film with a goofy grin on your face and fuzzy feeling in your heart.

Yes, the film is entirely is predictable and could have added more depth to its screenplay, however, the fantastic chemistry between the lead actors, Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan, shines through, leaving a memorable impression. Babil Khan is charming and achingly endearing throughout. His performance is heartfelt, lived, honest, and full of hope.

Amrith Jayan is quite the confident performer and stands out with his effortless act. Juhi Chawla is also good as the boys’ mother, and she brings a lot of warmth to the role. In supporting roles Ninad Kamat, Medha Rana, and Aadhya Anand are solid. On the whole, ‘Friday Night Plan’ is very likable coming of age comedy that showcases a heartfelt tale of brotherhood.