Who is a spy in a Bollywood movie? Think Pathan, Tiger or even Kabir. Hyper-masculine, muscular body, sharp mind and a love story that would put Shakespeare to shame. But then enters the latest recruit Happy Patel, who is fond of ballet and cooking and proudly dances to ‘I am an Alpa Purush’. He fails in every mission and the woman he loves slaps him repeatedly. Vir Das’s direction not only breaks the spy stereotypes but also brings back the thunderous laughter in theaters that was missing.

In his latest post, Vir Das mentioned how “extra” this film is, and how one can accurately describe it. Director Vir Das and Kavi Shastri (yes, the charming artist Rishta.com) Make no effort to slow it down, that only adds to the fun. Humor may require an acquired taste, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen something like this Delhi Belly, go goa goa or even Kalakandi That you want to sit and laugh with Happy Patel.

The way the characters and plot are written may make your eyes roll, but they also make you laugh with their absurdity. Of course, it’s not flawless, and sometimes you feel like the writers have gone too far, but full credit to them and producer Aamir Khan for the audacity of this attempt.

Vir Das had set expectations high with clever marketing assets ahead of the release, and now it looks like he was just preparing the audience for this crazy ride. It is difficult to determine the genre of the film, as the story keeps changing gears. At different points, it comes across as a spy thriller, a romantic comedy, a gangster drama, a suspense story and even an emotional story of an NRI rediscovering his roots. The way it’s shaped, the film sometimes feels like an extension of Veer’s show I come from two Indias. His training sequence in the MI7 warehouse to enter India as a spy is one of the funniest parts, as it taught him everything Bollywood and desi. As the film unfolds, it becomes clear how unrealistic our films are, and yet, that is the version of India that we and the world recognize.

Honest, big-hearted Happy Smith-Paisley, aka Patel, may be the most clueless hero you’ve seen in recent times, but the film embraces him wholeheartedly. The screenplay, dialogues and, especially, the reaction shots generate constant laughter. Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedian Vir Das sets out to prove himself as an actor and succeeds in passing that test with ease. There’s nothing ‘dangerous‘About this spy. He exists primarily as a punchline. Still, the innocence and honesty he brings, coupled with his impassioned expression in the most chaotic moments, works strongly in his favor.

Mithila Palkar and Mona Singh have been given impressive roles, and both make the most of their screen time. Mona, who is almost unrecognizable as Mama, is portrayed as a stereotypical Goa gangster who ends her sentences with ‘man’. He even gets Gabbar Singh’s ‘car’.How many men were there‘ Moment. Mithila adds warmth and playfulness to the narrative, and her chemistry with Veer feels good. Rapper Srishti Tawde makes her acting debut here and stands for Gen Z: tech-savvy, outspoken and armed with some of the funniest reactions in the film. However, it is Sharib Hashmi, in his Laal Singh Chaddha look, who walks away with the biggest piece of the cake. His comic timing and delivery underline why he remains one of the most dependable actors.

The opening sequence featuring Aamir Khan and Sumukhi Suresh neatly sets the mood for the silly, self-aware journey that lies ahead. His presence along with Imran Khan’s cameo is cleverly woven into the script. None of them feel that the purpose of adding things at the last minute is just to attract attention. Emraan, playing supermodel Milind Morea (a perfect blend of Milind Soman and Dino Morea), is a special highlight. We already know how he personally approached Veer for a role, and one can only hope that he doesn’t take another long break from the screen after the film.

Tickets for Vir Das’ shows are extremely expensive and difficult to get, so seeing him at Happy Patel could be an easy option for his fans. Don’t go in expecting depth or message. Just settle down and enjoy together.