Spoiler Alert:
Animal' Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor is stellar in problematic, paper-thin film
Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Animal' could have been a great father-son love story. Instead, it is driven by one character's whims for over three long hours.
After watching two films by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, you have an idea what you are getting into when you go in for the third one. In fact, the director had promised at the trailer launch that people would deem 'Animal' more problematic than even 'Arjun Reddy' and 'Kabir Singh'. Unfortunately, Vanga over-delivers on his promise. Because 'Animal', in several places, is misogynistic.
Vanga begins the film with a concerning 'joke', giving you a taste of what the rest of the three hours would entail. For instance, in one sequence, Ranbir's Rannvijay threatens Rashmika's character with violence, in another (which we have already seen in the trailer), he chokes her when she questions his erratic behaviour and obesession with his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor.
In a nice and ironical touch, there is also a joke about toxicity. In another bit, Ranbir, very 'practically' conveys why he 'loves' Rashmika's Geetanjali, because she can bear healthy children. There is emphasis on domesticity and tradition, and prior to one longish and pivotal fight scene, there is also a hat-tip to the prevailing government as a character flaunts his 'Made in India 'product'.
Ranbir's Rannvijay suffers from intense neglect and he drives that point home like a man-child, something which Vanga pegs as an 'alpha male' trait in the movie. However, credit where credit is due. At least, Vanga, at several points in the film, labels Ranbir's character quite appropriately as a 'criminal.'
One of the highlights of 'Animal' is the fight sequence, where you are required to employ willing suspension of disbelief. Something you are actually required to do at several points in the film. The cuts and transitions are credible as the story follows a non-linear narrative. But the entire plot rests on an age-old story, which is paper-thin to say the least.
The first half is engaging, primarily thanks to a very convincing Ranbir Kapoor, who manages to sell this toxic, annoying, irrational persona of Rannvijay very well. To think what he could have done with a better-written script! There is an apparent lack of female agency. Only Rashmika gets to say a few meaningful things in the feature, which is a definite step-up from Vanga's previous movies.
For those wondering about Bobby Deol, yes, he does make an appearance. However, despite doing his best, the character doesn't really stick due to a poorly written part.
'Animal' could have been a beautiful, meaty father-son love story. Instead, it is driven by its lead character's whims for 200 minutes.
The production value of the film is quite high, the actors do what is required of them, the background score is decent. Everything is almost in place, except for the main requirement of a film -- its story.
2 stars out of 5.
Source;
https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/animal-movie-review-ranbir-kapoor-is-stellar-in-problematic-paper-thin-film-2469885-2023-12-01
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