Family Pack Movie Review: Packed with laughter and surprise

When Arjun Kumar made his directorial debut with Sankashta Kara Ganapathi, he made it clear that he was not in Sandalwood to conform to its norms. He clearly deviated from the commercial narrative or even romantic comedies in vogue and embarked on a fresh new take on how romance can surreptitiously blend in with a unique storyline laced with laughter. And with Family Pack, the audience was expecting something divergent, and in a way, Arjun does not disappoint.

It's a light-hearted drama on love and family bonding that revolves around Abhi (Likith Shetty), who grows up in an unpleasant atmosphere -- a nagging mother (Padmaja Rao) and a womanising father (Achyuth Kumar). Abhi gets into medical college, decides to stay away from his broken family, and starts staying single. He falls in love with his fellow student, Bhoomika (Amrutha Iyengar), a social media addict. Sadly, Likith fails to express his love, and under depression, decides to commit suicide. That is when the twist comes in the form of a ghost, Manjunath/Manjanna (Rangayana Raghu), and he eventually becomes the soul of the story. The ghost goes about helping Abhi at every step. What's the fate of this unique relationship is what this slice-of-life drama is about. It comes with subtle messages still managing to tickle your funny bones.

A ghost bringing peace and happiness to a family may seem far-fetched, but Arjun makes it relatable. His take on family and its emotions in a light-hearted manner with all the twists and turns makes the film watchable. It is interesting to see the connection between the ghost, the hero's past, and the present.

The director also manages to bring the right cast. Actors Rangayana Raghu and Achyuth Kumar are the best picks for the respective characters, who nail with their effortless act. Likith and Amrutha Iyengar have meaty roles, and they manage to highlight their performances, although the episodes between Likith and the ghost seem repetitive.

Nagabhushan's character had the potential to get more screen space but has been limited to one or two scenes.

The music by Gurukiran holds the film. Yet another outing by PRK production, on Amazon Prime, Family Pack is a comfort watch with a message.