What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s latest Indian Original movie ‘Friday Night Plan’ is a coming-of-age film that centres on two teenaged brothers who are poles apart. 18-year-old Sidharth ‘Sid’ Menon (Babil Khan) is geeky and uptight, the quintessential Mr Goody Two-Shoes. Aditya ‘Adi’ Menon is sixteen, and the typical nuisance younger brother, who draws trouble like a magnet. Things get heartwarmingly messy when their Ma (Juhi Chawla) is out of town for work and the two sneak out for an impromptu Friday Night Plan (FNP) with the cool kids at school.
Friday Night Plan is directed by debutant Vatsal Neelakantan, produced by Excel Entertainment, while the dialogues are by Sapan Verma.
Performances?
Friday Night Plan is that rare film where every actor hits all the right notes, with no cringey overacting or over-the-top histrionics. Babil Khan is charming and charismatic, not to say, achingly endearing. His disarming smile is his secret weapon that he unleashes at the most unexpected times, forcing you to feel for him even more.
Amrith Jayan is a revelation as Aditya. He effortlessly steals the show whenever he’s in the frame – yes, even from Babil Khan. He owns the character the moment he opens his mouth, grabs our complete attention from the beginning, and holds it till the very end. A class act, that one!
Juhi Chawla is a delight to watch in her short cameo, as is Ninad Kamat as Sub-Inspector Suhas Pingale. The latter deserves better and bigger roles than the ones he’s getting in recent times. Aadhya Anand impresses as Nitya ‘Nits’ Sabharwal. The rest of the youngsters are equally good in their roles.
Analysis
Friday Night Plan is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stale, stinky environs that is the streaming space currently. The events of the story unfold over the course of one memorable, eye-opening night, taking us back in time to when we were as footloose and fancyfree as the high-school youngsters in the story, complete with pranks, crushes and all.
In today’s cuss-words-and-copulating-couples streaming scenario, this movie is an enchanting aberration. Despite Friday Night Plan being a film for young adults, it has zero swearing, no heavy making-out sessions or lusting after bodily pleasures…..not even a kiss. Which is also why it has our hearts, totally and completely in its grip.
Squeaky clean entertainment aside, Friday Night Plan is also a poignant coming-of-age story about a youngster whose life is upended by the untimely death of his father — much like Babil Khan’s own, who lost father Irrfan Khan much before time. The meta-ness of the moment is deeply affecting. The movie also delivers on another score – that of the bond between siblings — hitting a nerve here, touching a chord there, with its play on emotions and brotherly love.
The sparkling humour and witty wisecracks in the movie are added attractions. The writing is terrific. Despite the short runtime, the writers do an excellent job of etching out the primary characters, giving nuanced layers to each one’s personality. The best part about Friday Night Plan – you end up watching the whole film with a goofy grin on your face and fuzzy feeling in your heart.
Friday Night Plan also gives strong vibes of Netflix’s recent hit show, ‘Never Have I Ever’. The trajectory of the story is similar, though the setting and sensibilities may be different. This is apart from the movies that the makers have admitted to being inspired by – namely Superbad, Project X and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The dialogues pay homage to numerous Bollywood films too, most memorably, Mohabbatein.
To sum it up, Friday Night Plan is an eminently watchable movie, which should appeal to young viewers, and also to those who are young at heart. Watch it, and get the most out of its distinctly feel-good flavour.
Music and Other Departments?
The musical score of Friday Night Plan is peppy and suits the story well. Krish Makhija’s cinematography is lively and with-it. What’s more, he makes SoBo look ethereal at night. The editing is efficient.
Highlights?
Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan’s performances
Their chemistry
The overall feel and treatment
Squeaky clean content
Drawbacks?
Predictable, but not like it’s a drawback
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes.
Friday Night Plan Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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