So, I've finally returned home from the evening screening of "Animal," and I have a lot to talk about, so let's get started.
Positives:-
1. Ranbir Kapoor - In a nutshell, fabulous! I've always admired this man and his natural acting abilities; Vanga has really taken him to the next level, and Ranbir has absolutely dedicated himself to the role he plays. You can absolutely question or even condemn the character for the choices he makes, but you cannot overlook the exceptional acting on display.
2. Action & Violence - The second strongest aspect of this execution, and to be honest, we all knew it coming. Vanga pledged to deliver violence, and he kept his word. One of the most spectacular scenes of combat (the interval block) produced in Indian cinema. However, some viewers accustomed to Hollywood or international cinema may find the gore unsatisfactory!
3. Confrontation Sequences - There are three main ones in the film (Ranvijay and Varun, Ranvijay and Geetanjali, and Ranvijay and Balbir), and all three had a tremendous impact on me. Wonderful work!
Negatives:-
1. Lack of Emotional Drive - There was enough of drama and tension in the narrative, with a revenge factor at the forefront, but I couldn't connect to the protagonist's motive or drive, or any of the other characters for that matter. This is mostly caused by a lack of emotional depth, which has robbed the narration of its desired attribute.
2. Father-Son Dynamic Wastage - Every promotional material for the feature suggested a neatly constructed Father-Son relationship, with multiple layers and shades to explore and examine. However, that did not happen, and we were forced to settle for a one-dimensional portrayal of the said dynamic, which felt too banal, too rudimentary.
3. Choppy Editing and Incoherent Writing - Those who know my film preferences and palate know how much I advocate for non-linear storytelling and experimental filmmaking, but that's only applicable if the script has a certain flow to it and the narration doesn't dither about its main course at play. "Animal" unfortunately loses its way in the middle, especially during the second half.
Mixed:-
1. Humour - A couple of lines made me laugh, but the rest of the lines constituted for comedy fell flat and looked unwarranted and out of place!
2. Music - Songs like Arjan Vailly, Papa Meri Jaan, and Pehle Bhi Main matched the story gracefully and immediately pulled me in, but other tracks like Satranga and Saari Duniya Jalaa Denge were criminally underutilised.
3. Bobby Deol as Abrar Haque - The look of Bobby created so much buzz on social media that a large number of people (including me) were ecstatic to see him in a dark, sinister avatar like never before, but Sandeep Reddy Vanga had other intentions. It's a shame to see a veteran like Bobby given only fifteen minutes of screen time, and that without the requisite amount of depth or context, resulting in a half-baked cameo at best!
4. The Rest of the Supporting Cast - Rashmika, who played both the romantic interest and the wife, did a good job in a number of scenes (particularly near the end), but her character only had so much to express. Tripti Dimri, who played Zoya, had an even smaller role, which seemed unfair to me given her talent as an actor. Anil Kapoor, on the other hand, didn't have much to do except get upset and yell at his wife and children. Monotony hits again!
Conclusion: If you know what you're getting yourself into, I feel you'll be able to get the most out of this show; if not, better to proceed with caution.
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