Kunal Khemu's Madgaon Express is a hilariously entertaining ride, effortlessly mixing various forms of comedy - from slapstick to old-school - to create a genuinely funny movie that is bound to give you a bellyache.
With a runtime of nearly 2.5 hours, the first half of the film occasionally feels like a drag, although their are plentiful funny moments on offer, particularly due to the strong performances from Divyendu Sharma and Pratik Gandhi, who are the stars of the film. Both exhibit impeccable comedic timing and flawlessly deliver vocal as well as physical comedy. A perfect example is a warehouse scene, which gave me some of the best laughs I have had in years.
Kunal Khemu emerges as a highly exciting director, drawing from his extensive experience in acting in comedies. He takes inspiration from a number of modern as well as classic films, at the same time establishing a visual storytelling style that is unique to him. One particularly notable aspect was the use of POV shots in a way I haven't seen in the genre before.
Avinash Tiwary completes the trio of leading stars, and is by far the weakest link of the movie. Not only is his character uninteresting for the most part(save for the climax where he has a significant role), his comedic timing does not reach the levels shown by his co-stars.
There is also an over abundance of characters, which certainly adds to the chaos, but is also a deterrent to the film. Certain supporting characters could be cardboard cutouts and it wouldn't make a difference.
In conclusion, Madgaon Express was a really enjoyable ride, and established Kunal Khemu as one to keep an eye on, but underdeveloped characters and an overly long runtime make this journey a tad tedious.