May 10, 2013
Cast: Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwari, Puja Gupta, Saif Ali Khan
Directors: Krishna DK & Raj Nidimoru
Go Goa Gone has been advertised as India’s first zom-com, or a comedy about zombies. The film, starring Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, and Anand Tiwari as three best friends stranded on an island infested with flesh-eating zombies, works like magic when directors Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru focus on their three leads and the irreverent banter between them. But, working off a slim plot, the filmmakers don’t really know where to take the story after a point, and end up turning the film’s entire second half into a lazy cat-and-mouse chase between man and monster.
Channeling an unfiltered, sexually charged humor reminiscent of Delhi Belly, the film introduces us to permanently stoned Hardik (Khemu) and Luv (Das), who never leave their couch unless they absolutely have to. Stuck in jobs they have no interest in, their love and sex lives going nowhere, the two fellas decide to tag along when their straight-arrow roommate, Bunny (Tiwari), heads to Goa on a work assignment.
The morning after a rave at a nearby island, an exclusive Russian drug that our heroes were too broke to buy has turned most partygoers into the walking dead. Along with a pretty girl, Luna (Puja Gupta), who also escaped the infection, the boys scramble around the island dodging the zombies until they run into Boris (Saif Ali Khan), a bleached-blond mafioso who claims he “kills dead people”.
The jokes fly thick and fast, particularly in the early scenes that benefit from a winning cocktail of laugh-out-loud dialogue and well-timed performances by the three leads. In one terrific sequence, they’re attacked by a trio of female flesh-eaters. After bickering over who will tackle the hot one, and who must vanquish the fat one, the boys use everything from logs to umbrellas to whack, stab, and punch the daylights out of the women. Never have I laughed this hard at a sight so politically incorrect, yet so oddly funny.
Saif Ali Khan as Boris, alternating between a Dilli accent and a Russian accent, is in very good form. In a scene where he interrogates and intimidates Kunal Khemu’s character while checking for possible signs of the zombie virus, both actors shine as they play off each other. Khemu, in fact, has a rakish charm, and he plays the cocksure Hardik with a winning confidence. Vir Das as the goofy Luv, and Anand Tiwari as the earnest Bunny, hit all the right notes, seldom setting a foot out of place.
It’s a pity then the writers don’t know what to do with these characters post intermission. So they’re relentlessly pursued by swarms of zombies through forests and beaches and an abandoned home. Because these monsters inspire neither fear nor laughs, the film’s extended climax doesn’t feel merely convenient, but also wholly underwhelming.
I’m going with three out of five for Go Goa Gone. So much in this film is good, until it all goes nowhere in the end.
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
Perfect review … But a special mention has to be given to that lovely lovely scene spoofing the quintessential Bollywood routine of running around the trees … That was a woot woot moment for me in the film
Comment by Sanket — May 11, 2013 @ 12:45 am
And another thing … How could they not include the awesomely made video of ‘babaji ki booti’ in the film … It had such a ‘gaanja’ish feel to it
Comment by Sanket — May 11, 2013 @ 2:32 am
Best review ,, the movie wud have been perfect if something better was introduced post intermission, well for the laughs ,, its the best pf the year!!
Comment by Nawazish Khan — May 11, 2013 @ 5:58 am
Agree with the review…. movie is good in parts .. becomes repetitive sometimes
Comment by suraj jain — May 11, 2013 @ 11:52 am
After watching all the seasons of “The Walking Dead”, i don’t think this one would interest me. :/
Comment by Amar — May 11, 2013 @ 1:04 pm
That review hit the nail on the head. But I d like to add a few points
Vir Das looked a lil un interested and under used in the movie
Special mention for the music, its something you will admire. especially the dubstep tracks used in the movie were brilliant.
The ending was a lil bizarre and you said it a lil underwhelming, a bit of VFX would have made it a lil more believable (If you know what I mean)
Comment by Durgesh Sirwani — May 11, 2013 @ 1:53 pm
Very Good review Sir.I watched it first day as I was very curious to see the first Zombie movie of Bollywood,I have seen many zombie comedy films,’shaun of dead’ is one of my fav zombie movie.I was keen to see how Go Goa Gone is executed,Its a quite good entertaining movie,its not like typical zombie movie,its entertain us in different way,there are many witty lines,scenes in the movie,though they are adultary contents,there are many slang words,which will entertain youth,i also liked first half more than second half,second half did not work very well like the first one,not proper execution,climax could have been better,all actors have acted very well,especially Kunal and Hardik.
Director has made some funny scenes bringing Soha into the film.They started with a video of Chiranjeevi was funny also.
Comment by BISWARAJ — May 12, 2013 @ 11:29 am
Hilarious movie with crafty acting and special effects as far as hindi cinema is concerned…Saif is freaking cool with his accent.Perfect review by masand sir.
Comment by sashwat — May 12, 2013 @ 7:00 pm
you rated zombieland 3/5………do you feel it is even close too that….why are you so generous to it…..zombieland was much better.
Comment by nived — May 13, 2013 @ 2:26 pm
great movie………………a must watch…………………..!!!!!………great work by all the actors ………..
Comment by harshit — May 14, 2013 @ 11:24 am
You gave zombieland 3 stars,which was much better than this…..why are you so kind to this indian zomcom which is no where close…….
Comment by nived — May 14, 2013 @ 3:59 pm
It is a good time pass. Nice way to enjoy the weekend
Comment by Sinha — May 16, 2013 @ 10:07 am
agree. the movie is good in parts. best performances from the leads. saif shines. puja is funny too.
my review – http://jigar-doshi.com/2013/05/go-goa-gone-movie-review/
moreover, liked the disclaimer made by saif himself about smoking and it’s harmfulness. 🙂
Comment by Jigar Doshi — May 19, 2013 @ 3:23 pm
Dear Sir,
I saw Go Goa Gone on first day.
I often see your recommendations before going for a movie.
For me, the movie sucked big time.
Having seen thousand of zombie movies, i never thought that a zombie movie can be made bad.
I also don’t agree with your review of this movie (for me 3 is a go ahead).
In fact this movie had nothing to offer and the whole story can be summed up as
“Go to Goa, people converted to zombie by a drug, roam mindlessly on Island (consuming a lot of screen time), come back”.
Better to avoid this movie. (my rating: 1.5/5)
Comment by Pankaj — May 24, 2013 @ 2:11 pm
Dear Mr. Masand,
I am a great fan of yours and i used to watch movies after viewing your reviews about it. Yes this film is indeed very very good attempt. We have seen all kind of ” Zombie flicks” in hollywood. But this film is tremendously entertaining. Every one acted well. All most every one is spontaneous and gave 100% to the movie.
There are couple of loop holes and unnecessary acts took place if the Director eliminate all those then in 2nd part it will a awesome one. We would like to see a India made “Zombieland” in near future.
people have different views like Go Goa Gone is no good. But to me it should be 3 1/2 and kudos for a very entertaining movie.
Comment by Sankha S Bandyopadhyay — May 24, 2013 @ 7:54 pm