ANIMAL review: Ranbir's Best Yet
By Sanskriti Ramachandran
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ANIMAL is a 2023 film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles.
Animal delivers an intense cinematic experience, living up to its massy commercial expectations. As the second original and third installment in the Vanga universe, the film centres around Ranbir and his complex relationship with his father. The trailer featured Ranbir as a toxic, masculine, privileged boy begging for his father's attention, and the movie delivered just that. The movie explores the dominant theme of parental neglect and its impact on children, shaping them into attention-seeking adults.
While the screenplay is notable, the actual plot is trash. A blend of unnecessary hypersexual moments, what saves the story are the dialogues that stand out for their witty humour. However, the film suffers from sloppy camerawork that detracts from the overall experience. Ranbir's establishing shots, however, are mind-blowing, whereas the VFX falls somewhere in the middle. The music score, despite featuring talented artists like B. Praak and Vishal Mishra, were forgettable and a waste of talent.
Surprisingly, for someone not fond of action films, the machine gun sequences, particularly in the context of the movie, offer a strangely calming effect. Ranbir's theme song, though overplayed, leaves a lasting impression on the audience. Animal also portrays stereotypical Punjabi characters and dialogues seen through a south Indian lens. A lot of scenes depicting a supressed female even till the end however, shows Vanga's lack of knowledge on women and real love.
While the first half captivates with entertainment and brilliance, the second half heavily disappoints. Ranbir convincingly portrays the role of Balbir Singh's son, reminiscent of a similar toxic male in Sanju, seamlessly fitting into the narrative. Upendra Limaye's brief appearance as Freddy steals the spotlight, leaving us wanting more. Bobby Deol delivers a career-best performance as a villian while we hope to see more of him, we don't hope to see Rashmika in a dissapointing role of a passive woman who could easily be replaced. Tripti Dimri, Anil Kapoor, and Saurabh Sachdeva's stellar performances contribute to the film's success. These south-north collaborations between Bollywood and Tollywood hold promise for the future of Bollywood and inspire originality.
Despite its toxicity and anti-feminism, Animal stands out as an exceptional film and creates anticipation for Vanga's upcoming film, Spirit. Will Prabhas follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, and Animal, or will he bring something new to the table? The prospect of Animal Park, a sequel, adds to the excitement and might potentially become the cherry on top of this cinematic universe.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU GIVE ANIMAL
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- ⭐⭐⭐⭐