Good Newwz

Good Newwz Story: When a couple trying to have a baby, are unable to conceive naturally, they decide to go for an IVF (in-vitro fertilization) procedure. But a mix up by their doctor leads to much confusion.

Good Newwz Review: Deepti (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and Varun Batra (Akshay Kumar) are a posh, high-flying married couple, living in Mumbai and are much involved with their respective careers. Deepti also has her heart set on having a baby and after trying for a few years and then, some prodding by the family, both Varun and she decide to consult one of the best fertility specialists in the city. The doctor advises IVF and they are ready for it. Only hitch, few days after the procedure is through, Deepti and Varun are told there has been a sperm mix-up with another couple with the same last name. Enter 'the Batras from Chandigarh' into their lives. Honey (Diljit Dosanjh) and Monika (Kiara Advani) are a loud Punjabi couple and now it’s a complete clash of sensibilities between the two sets of Batras. As both Deepti and Monika soon find out they are pregnant, the rest of the film forms how the couples come to terms and deal with this unusual situation.

Through much of its runtime, director Raj Mehta ensures that 'Good Newwz' stays true to its genre with several light-hearted and funny moments. Add to that, the pace of the film stays mostly tight. Although given the subject and premise the narrative, at times, treads into a problematic zone and stance. And some of the jokes seem off-colour. There’s also a tendency to over explain and simplify in some portions which stick out. Also, the screenplay barely scratches the surface when it comes to getting into the depth and complexity of the situation.

However, the performances are top-notch. Kareena Kapoor Khan steals the show and delivers a knockout performance as the sophisticated Deepti, and her character’s emotional arc is developed well. Akshay Kumar hits the right spot with his comic timing. As does Diljit Dosanjh, who sinks his teeth into his character and plays it with full gusto. Kiara Advani is sincere and makes an impression. Adil Hussain as the straight-faced doctor, at the core of all the confusion, is a hoot. And as a couple, both Kareena and Akshay play off each other well and many of their interactions come off as very relatable.

At the heart of it, 'Good Newwz' is a light and breezy comedy and certainly makes for an entertaining watch.