Friday Night Plan Review: Babil Khan & Juhi Chawla present a heartwarming slice-of-life film

Film:
Friday Night Plan

Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes

Director: Vatsal Neelakantan

Starcast: Babil Khan, Juhi Chawla, Amrith Jayan, Medha Rana, Aadhya Anand & Aditya Jain

Platform: Netflix

Friday Night Plan Review

One can never go wrong with a new-age slice-of-life film. And well, that’s exactly what filmmaker Vatsal Neelakantan has managed to do with Netflix’s latest offering – Friday Night Plan. A coming-of-age drama, the film follows two brothers – played by Babil Khan and Amrith Jayan – who get invited to an after-school party while their mother Juhi Chawla is away for a business trip. They get into a series of misadventures and despite their differences and contrasting personalities, learn to come through for each other. It’s an endearing tale of brotherhood, friendship, love and self-discovery.

Watch the trailer while reading Friday Night Plan Review:

Storyline

The 1 hour 48 minutes long film begins with Maa (Juhi Chawla) requesting her 18-year-old son Sid (Babil Khan) to take care of his 16-year-old younger brother Adi (Amrith Jayan) while she is away for just one night for a meeting. Sid, the responsible and geeky elder brother, starts off the day by following everything his mom asks him to. However, things take an interesting turn when Sid makes his school football team win the match against their rival school by scoring a goal.

Sid, who was barely visible to others, now becomes the most popular and cool kid in school. Proud of his big bro’s achievement, Adi makes it a point to hype Sid up in front of his friends. To celebrate their big win, the OG cool kid Kabir (Aditya Jain) organizes an after-school party aka FNP (Friday Night Plan) at his close friend and the school’s most popular girl Natasha (Medha Rana) and her younger sister Nitya’s (Aadhya Anand) house. Adi convinces Sid to let loose for a day and join the party where he could also possibly ask Natasha out for their prom. But things go haywire when the duo gets into some trouble with the police. What happens next is a series of events that strengthen Sid and Adi’s brotherhood and take Sid on a journey of self-discovery.

Performances

Babil Khan perfectly emotes every single emotion of a confused teenager who is stuck between being the perfect son and enjoying life with his younger brother. After Qala, Babil yet again proves how naturally acting comes to him. Juhi, on the other hand, brilliantly plays a supportive single mother in her special appearance.

Amrith Jayan as Adi is a surprise package. He is savage, cool and adds several elements of fun with his quirky yet sensitive personality. The entire supporting cast of young actors – Medha Rana, Aadhya Anand & Aditya Jain – lend good support to the film.

Technical Aspect

Vatsal Neelakantan’s direction and writing are both praise-worthy. He manages to showcase a relatable story while also keeping it sweet and crisp. Krish Makhija’s cinematography is bang on. The background music is apt for the film.

What’s great about the Vatsal Neelakantan-directed Friday Night Plan

Family bonding: The way the bond of two brothers is showcased in Friday Night Plan – it’s commendable and so relatable. As someone who has siblings herself, I can vouch for the fact that this is actually how siblings behave in real life too. There’s a sense of innocence and responsibility in Babil and Amrith which is just so sweet to watch.

Journey of self-discovery: Babil goes through a journey of self-discovery in the film which is not explored to an extreme level but is showcased in a manner that suits the storyline. He learns how to shoot his shot and not be scared or embarrassed about taking his chance. The film teaches us to be confident and never have a sense of self-doubt.

Drawback of Friday Night Plan

Rushed climax: The only thing that feels like a drawback in Friday Night Plan is the rushed climax. I expected to see more of Babil and Aadhya’s bonding. And the oh-so-famous prom night that was the topic of discussion in the entire film. It feels like the film ends on an abrupt note.

Conclusion

Friday Night Plan could be your perfect weekend watch if you’re planning to stay in for some Netflix & chill! It’s a light-hearted coming-of-age drama that’s worth a watch.

Also Read: Friday Night Plan trailer: Babil Khan and Juhi Chawla promise a rollercoaster full of fun and emotions