The turbulent threesome that you wish lasted a little longer

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Why should men get to perform all the action in the air (pun intended)? I love it when women take charge and break barriers at the movies. Director Rajesh Krishnan’s heist comedy, Crew, brings a whiff of fresh air both in terms of the plot and its three protagonists — the feisty, fearless and fun air hostesses Geeta Sethi (Tabu), Jasmine Bajwa (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and Divya Rana (Kriti Sanon). Don’t complain if the events unfolding on screen seem bizarre or brainless at times. That’s the beauty of Crew; it still makes for a funny and refreshing watch.

The lead trio works for Kohinoor

Airlines, loosely modelled on the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Unpaid for six months, they continue to do their jobs half-heartedly until they find themselves in the middle of a smuggling investigation. Upon learning that the chairman of the airlines, Vijay Walia (Saswata Chatterjee) — unapologetically inspired from Vijay Mallya — has declared bankruptcy and fled to Al Burj (modelled on Dubai), these cabin crew members decide to get their money (and a lot more) back from him. How they devise crazy plans to serve him right while trying to save themselves from cops, makes for a shaky and bumpy joyride.

While the storyline appears novel and full of potential, the sloppy screenplay and non-linear narrative often allow inconsistency to creep in. Writers Nidhi Mehra and Mehul Suri keep their game strong with funny one-liners and comic punches, even though some jokes fall flat. Even in the most tricky situations, humour is continuously fed to us. But while Crew takes off well and flies high in the first half, the second half nosedives in the writing department, with many scenes looking rushed.

The star of the film is the trio’s camaraderie and the emotional (yet hilarious) turmoil they go through. Tabu, as the senior most of the lot, is a delight with her ability to crack a joke with a straight face. Kareena is the undisputed queen and she steals the show effortlessly. Alongside two senior actors, Kriti holds her own and adds an unmissable charm. And I can’t not mention the men. Despite their limited roles, Kapil Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh leave an impact. In a nutshell, Crew makes you laugh and have fun, and manages to stay afloat despite a lot of turbulence.