I grew up reading Greg Heffley’s adventures in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (authored by Jeff Kinney). Heffley was this average student, a middle-bencher, mediocre at best. Seeing the world from a not-so-special child’s point of view was always interesting. His problems were routine, something you knew you didn’t need to take seriously. Friday Night Plan (2023), currently streaming on Netflix, feels very much like an Indian deep dive into the life of a wimpy kid who is struggling with his school, friends, crush, football team, and college applications. On paper and the screen, the film is this culmination of all classic teen comedy films you would have previously watched. (More or less) every bit of the film will remind you of a different film you may have watched—this innate nostalgia is pretty much the only achievement of Friday Night Plan. 

There has been a dearth—hence a demand—for relatable light comedies. Thus, the timing of Friday Night Plan couldn’t have been better. Here is a film about two brothers always at a crossroads with each other. While Sid (Babil Khan) is an underdog, the bench of his football team, a solitudinarian, the wallflower of every party (cue: Charlie from The Perks of Being A Wallflower), Aditya (Amrith Jayan)—though a junior—wants to be the center of the attention, a part of the “it” group. So when Sid strikes the winning goal in the annual football match, Adi sees it as his ultimate chance to become friends with the football dudes. 

This template is not new—it has been done to death, very honestly—but it feels like a fresh breeze of air occasionally when the characters are interesting enough. Vatsal Neelakantan’s directorial debut is set in the International School of Mumbai. It is heavily inspired by all Hollywood teen dramas where kids dine at a cafeteria, work on Mac laptops, paint on canvases, cheer for football teams, and go out on drives in the wee hours after a party on Friday night. It is very much like watching a Hollywood film with Indian characters. 

Over the course of 100 minutes, we witness the brothers fight and then later come to terms with each other. As much as the film is about their relationship, it is also about them acknowledging their own shortcomings. In some sense, it feels like a diluted version of Kapoor and Sons (2016). By the film’s end, Sid realizes the need to let go a little, and Adi learns to take responsibility. It is sweet at best to watch the brothers reconcile and take ‘adulting’ seriously. 

Juhi Chawla—with her limited screen time—is a beautiful casting choice. She knows how to balance the cool-as-cucumber persona with her extremely protective motherly vibe. Babil is endearing as Sid, and Amrith complements him well. The former has managed to add a sense of vulnerability to his performance. The emotional shifts really do reach the viewer.

Friday Night Plan, at best, is a comfortable watch for when you need something easy and nostalgic, but this may not become a repeat watch, for the film offers nothing new as an experience. Watch it for leisure, and if anything else, watch it for Babil.

Review Courtesy of Anjani Chadha

Feature Image credit to Netflix