Friday Night Plan Movie Review: Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan Shine in Netflix's Heartfelt Tale of Sibling Bonds and Self-Discovery! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Friday Night Plan Movie Review: Friday Night Plan, written and directed by Vatsal Neelakantan, isn't exactly groundbreaking in its originality. The film's Wikipedia page openly acknowledges its influences from cult classics such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Project X, and Superbad, and one could easily add a couple more like Dazed and Confused and House Party to that list. In fact, there's a female character in Friday Night Plan who, with her aloof demeanor and constant companion, a book, may remind viewers of MJ from the MCU's Spider-Man movies. Clearly, Friday Night Plan serves as the director's love letter to these iconic movies, and for those who share a similar affection for them, the influences are a welcome homage. Babil Khan Opens Up About Why He Doesn’t Share Memories of Father Irrfan Khan on Instagram Anymore.

Friday Night Plan also delves into territories like beer pong and discussions about prom dates, concepts that may seem somewhat foreign to many of us Indians, unless we've been immersed in American movies and shows. Nevertheless, there's a warmth and endearing quality to the film, centered around the theme of siblinghood and living life to the fullest, which transcends these cultural differences, making it easily relatable to a broad audience.

The story of Friday Night Plan revolves around two teenage brothers, raised by their widowed mother, portrayed by Juhi Chawla. Sid (played by Babil Khan), the older brother, is reserved and introverted, nursing a crush on the most attractive girl in his high school, Natasha (played by Medha Rana). His younger brother, Adi (played by Amrith Jayan), is mischievous and outgoing, constantly prodding Sid to break out of his shell. Predictably, the two brothers often clash.

When their mother has to travel from Mumbai to Pune for a one-day work trip, Sid is entrusted with looking after his younger brother. After a game of football, Sid unexpectedly finds himself in the spotlight and receives an invitation to a Friday Night Plan party at Natasha's house. Encouraged by Adi, Sid reluctantly agrees, even defying their mother's prohibition on using the car. The remainder of this slice-of-life film unfolds, depicting how the events of that night impact the brothers' relationship, for better or worse.

Watch the Trailer of Friday Night Plan:

As a film, Friday Night Plan doesn't aspire to convey lofty messages or grand ambitions. Its simplicity is its charm, which becomes evident in the opening scene itself when we see Sid grooving to the tune of "Bahaane" while going about his morning chores.

The heart of the film lies in the bond between Sid and Adi. Their issues aren't world-shattering, but they're still significant and relatable. Sid sees his brother as irresponsible, while Adi views him as excessively uptight and mature for his age. Somewhere beneath it all, there's the shadow of a family tragedy, subtly hinted at in the opening credits as the camera pans across family photographs of the protagonists. Unsurprisingly, the events of the night reshape their perspectives of each other, leaving the audience with a heartwarming feeling.

However, one wishes that the film delved deeper into the characters of the two main female leads, Natasha and her younger sister Nithya (played by Aadhya Anand). Although they too have their sibling squabbles, there's much more we'd like to learn about them. Does Natasha's fascination with Sid extend beyond his heroics at the football game and the resultant newfound fame? What lies beneath the surface of Nithya and Adi's platonic friendship, and what happens when it ventures into (offscreen at least) The Kissing Booth territory? These are questions that could have added depth to the story. The Kissing Booth 3 Review: Joey King Tries Hard To Make It A Worthy Finale But It Disappoints, Feel Critics.

Nonetheless, the young cast performs admirably, portraying teenagers driven by immaturity and hormones without resorting to clichés. However, it's the fantastic camaraderie between Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan that steals the show. Babil Khan strikes the right balance in his role, allowing his character to occasionally break free from his shell effectively. Debutante Amrith Jayan is a charmer right from the word go, making him a scene-stealer to watch out for! Aadhya Anand, Medha Rana, Juhi Chawla and Ninad Kamat work well with their parts.

Final Thoughts

Friday Night Plan may not aim for groundbreaking storytelling, but it succeeds in delivering a heartwarming and relatable tale of sibling dynamics and youthful adventures. While some character exploration could have added depth, the fantastic chemistry between the lead actors, Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan, shines through, leaving a memorable impression. Friday Night Plan is streaming on Netflix.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2023 12:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).