Animal movie review: Brace yourself if Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh left you uneasy, as his latest film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Animal, takes it to another level.
Sam Bahadur film review: Director Meghna Gulzar’s recent work dramatizes the exploits and clever remarks of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s life without nuance.
Animal movie review: The lead role in the film is portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor.
Animal movie review: Extreme violence takes the spotlight as gore dominates the scenes. It’s a bloodbath throughout, wild and wicked. Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s highly anticipated Animal has been unleashed, presenting Ranbir Kapoor in a devilish, menacing, and unhinged portrayal. Do we adore him? Certainly! Do we resent him? Absolutely! The problematic premise of Animal has been a topic of discussion since its teaser and trailer were revealed. The full film unfolds with a series of events, emotions, and sequences leading to a somewhat underwhelming climax. The conclusion feels rushed, leaving you anticipating if there’s more to come after the end credits.
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Animal takes you on a bloody, noisy, gory, and violent journey, and for a significant part of it, you don’t find fault. It simply engrosses you in its compelling narrative and grandeur but frequently leaves you puzzled each time the protagonist is in action. Portrayed as an anti-hero, Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor) admires and reveres his father Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor) and spends most of his childhood yearning for his love and attention, all in vain. Thus, daddy issues manifest early in his life and have evident consequences on most of his formative years.
Fast forward to high school (through a flashback sequence), he enters his sister’s college with a gun to teach a lesson to those who bullied her. As a consequence, he not only receives a series of tight slaps from his father but is soon sent to a boarding school in the US. He returns for his father’s 60th birthday but ends up in a confrontation with his brother-in-law Varun (Siddharth Karnick). Shortly after, a love story unfolds, and he once again flees to the US with his lady love Geetanjali (Rashmika Mandanna) as their inter-caste marriage faces opposition from their families.
After an absence of eight years due to an attack on his father, Ranvijay returns, undergoing a noticeable transformation. His hair has grown, and the bearded appearance enhances his appeal, making him appear more formidable, intense, and merciless. Engaged in a mission to eliminate Abrar Haque (Bobby Deol), who poses a threat to his father’s life, Ranvijay is determined to succeed, and no one can impede his path.
If you found filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s movies Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh unsettling, brace yourself for Animal, where Ranbir portrays a character steeped in misogyny without any reservations. Whether advising his younger sister to opt for wine over whiskey or mocking his elder sister, a Harvard graduate, for merely saying, ‘Chup raho, bas karo (Keep quiet)’ in her marriage, Ranvijay elicits a mix of love, hatred, and misunderstanding. As the entitled and affluent spoiled brat, he sees himself as the man in charge after his father, ready to take matters into his own hands to ensure justice, especially for the women in his family.
That said, Ranbir delivers a stellar performance, embodying Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal with authenticity. He skillfully blends vulnerability with villainous traits, evoking empathy even when facing gunshots or punches to the face, making audiences feel sorry for him rather than wishing for his demise.
In a particular scene, when Ranbir operates an advanced shooting machine, eliminating over 300 heavily armed men, Sandeep strategically incorporates a Kabir doha (bura jo dekhan main chala), enhancing Ranbir’s entry with added heroism. Instances like these elevate Animal at several points. Additionally, there’s a subtle promotion of ‘Made in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
At a runtime of 3 hours and 22 minutes, making it one of the longest films I’ve seen in a very long time, Animal is determined to induce a headache with its high-pitched dialogues that are sure to pierce through your ears, causing discomfort. There are also moments where you wish for subtlety, both visually and verbally.
For example, the repeated references to male pubic hair as a symbol of manhood might not be too pleasant. Similarly, when Ranbir discusses his sex life with a psychologist after an accident. The screenplay, co-written by Sandeep with Pranay Reddy Vanga and Saurabh Gupta, manages gripping elements and ensures each frame provides a visually cinematic experience. However, amidst all this, logic takes a backseat, and the story feels prolonged, especially in the second half.
Bollywood, from classics like DDLJ to recent releases like Animal, has normalized the theme of the hero breaking into the heroine’s house to persuade her to call off her wedding. In Animal, this trope takes a different turn, as Ranvijay captivates Geetanjali by imparting a lesson on ‘alpha males’. Although clichéd, she quickly falls for him, even overlooking comments like ‘You have got a big pelvis’. During their elopement in a chartered plane, they engage in a passionate lovemaking session. Post-marriage, when Geetanjali inquires about the experience, Rannvijay nonchalantly discusses the challenges of managing gravity’s impact during their intimate moments, highlighting his dominant role in their physical relationship.
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