‘The 4 Rascals’ (2025) Netflix Movie Review - A Riotous Romp Glued Together With Affection

I sauntered into this film brimming with skepticism, a rom-com with slapstick and a tarot deck detective squad? That’s either a genius mash-up or cinematic chaos. Turns out, 'The 4 Rascals' straddles both and glories in it. It’s the kind of comedy that doesn’t merely hand out laughs; it clobbers you with them, grinning all the while.

Let’s start with the positive mischief. The ensemble is the heart; it pulses with such manic energy you'd swear they were auditioning for a high-stakes improv troupe. Kieu, narrating like she’s reading a confession from a karaoke stage, makes her envy both relatable and cheeky. Quỳnh Anh, the “perfect wife,” wears her frustration like a glinting accessory; her subtle emotional rackets resonate, especially when her life starts unspooling in glimpses. And then there’s Uncle 11, Aunt Dì Bón, and Jessica the tarot reader: a mismatched squad assembled for the express purpose of mayhem. Their banter snaps like a rubber band, and every slapstick pivot lands with gleeful precision.

Visually, the film is a candy store. Neon-drenched cityscapes collide with sunny rustic scenes, each framed with a flourish that says: “Hey, notice how much effort I’ve put into making this look like a pop-up postcard.” That visual dynamism is matched by editing that flits from chaos to calm without asking permission. One moment you’re watching a pedal-to-the-metal bike crash; the next, you’re slowing to catch a quiver crossing Quỳnh Anh’s face. That’s an audacious kind of heart-wiggle, and they pull it off.

And for all its cartoonish carnage, the film makes room for something deeper. Underneath the tarot theatrics and restaurant brawls, it’s curious about friendship, trust, and what happens when communication collapses. It observes how loyalty gets battered by suspicion, yet maybe stronger on the other side. That ending doesn’t roll credits on a cue-card resolution; it lingers, letting empathy anchor what might otherwise dissolve into pure farce.

But let’s not ignore the rough edges beneath this comedic carnival—first, the tonal whiplash. One minute we’re chasing romantic misunderstandings with pratfalls, the next we’re shoved into near-melodramatic confrontations. Most of the time, it’s exhilarating; occasionally, it jolts like name-brand cheddar in a cupcake, surprisingly effective, yet jarringly odd. That tempo shift doesn’t always feel intentional, and sometimes the stakes don’t land the emotional blow they go for, leaving the momentum to teeter.

Then there's predictability. You see a love triangle, you know where suspicion will go, trust broken, over-the-top sleuthing, revelations, heartfelt reconciliation. A few script turns do catch you off-guard, but a lot of the romance tropes are predictably dressed up in slapstick costumes. You know exactly when dinner-table sabotage will go sideways. Also, certain characters hover at the threshold of caricature. Dì Bón’s physical comedy is brilliant on cue, but she sometimes fades into broad stereotype territory. Karen, the glamorous potential rival, could’ve benefited from more nuance; her motivations skimmed the surface, and beyond her allure, we don’t dig much deeper.

On balance, though, the pros outweigh the flaws. There’s a vivacity here that many rom-coms lack; this one feels alive, messy, and unapologetically loud. The cast revels in their roles while somehow rooting for them, even when they’re leaping off a moving scooter into a romantic misunderstanding.

The narrative unfolds like a late-night sketch show turned family caper. You’re never entirely sure whether to brace for another pratfall or an emotional reveal. That unpredictable brew is both a thrill and a misstep. And while the story at its core is familiar, it’s told with such dazzle and affection that it earns breathless indulgence.

The 4 Rascals isn’t refined, it’s doused in big colors, dragged through impromptu bickering sessions, and tossed into noir-tinged tarot theatrics. Yet that’s precisely the point. It’s a rom-com with its heartbeat riding a mix of slapstick and sentiment, reminding us that relationships are chaotic, friendship is absurd, and sometimes the best remedy is a comedic squad springing into action armed with tarot cards and well-timed punches.

In the end, the film is a breathless serenade to folks who love unpredictability wrapped in heartfelt humor. It doesn't gift you elegance, but it does shower you with sincerity, delight, and the reminder that sometimes friendship is the wildest, most earnest kind of love story.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times