In the muddled chaos that is Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, the director boldly but blindly plunges into the cesspool of toxic masculinity. Headlined by an ensemble cast featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Anil Kapoor, the film aspires to dissect contemporary male identity amidst gritty thrills.
Alas, Animal stumbles into a paradox, ostensibly exploring masculinity while drowning in a sea of superficiality in this dull movie.
Establishing the Alpha Male Universe
Vanga’s feeble attempt to establish an alpha male universe reeks of clichéd tropes and lazy storytelling. Assertiveness and protection become flimsy excuses for characters devoid of substance, struggling against the shackles of one-dimensional masculinity. The film’s exploration of manhood feels as deep as a puddle, rendering its thematic aspirations laughable.
Character Dynamics: Kapoor’s Overwrought Intensity and Deol’s Fleeting Madness
Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Ranvijay Singh Balbir is marked by raw intensity, demonstrating a departure from his usual roles. The film belongs to him, and he makes sure it does.
Animal is probably one of the darkest shades of the character that Ranbir has ever played with finesse. In a regrettably brief role, Bobby Deol brings a disturbing brilliance to the screen. His portrayal of a character on the edge of madness is a highlight, showcasing controlled insanity through nuanced expressions and unpredictable cadence.
In-Your-Face Violence and Emotional Vacuum
Animal doesn’t shy away from visceral violence, with the first action sequence featuring Arjan Vailly as a captivating spectacle that evokes a sense of “Josh.” Amidst the chaotic brawl, an unconventional amalgamation of machinery, resembling a hybrid between a lawnmower and a bullet dispenser, takes center stage in the sequence.
In an unexpected turn, Upendra Limaye, playing the role of the jittery arms dealer Freddy, proudly hails his weaponry as a prime exemplification of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, was uncalled for. Cinematically, the sequence has no aesthetics to offer. In the second fight sequence, the raw intensity of the Ranbir Kapoor-Bobby Deol faceoff turns a bit bizarre and laughable, with a misplaced soundtrack undermining an otherwise solid track.
Engaging Background Score
One redeeming quality surfaces in the form of the background score, desperately trying to salvage a sinking ship. However, even the most evocative soundtrack cannot rescue the film from the abyss of its narrative failings. The music becomes an accessory to a crime, complicit in masking the dearth of genuine storytelling.
Flaws in Narrative Pacing
Narrative pacing becomes a casualty as Animal descends further into its self-imposed abyss. The second half is an agonizing stretch, an attempt to justify a protagonist’s rage that only prolongs the audience’s torment. The film’s elongation becomes an exercise in punishing viewers for their misguided investment.
Misogyny and Character Debacles
Rashmika Mandanna’s character, initially presented as strong-willed, succumbs to a dizzying whirlwind of inconsistency, oscillating between feeble attempts at independence and the shackles of traditional gender roles. The film’s casual misogyny poisons any potential for meaningful discourse on gender dynamics, reducing women to mere pawns in its misguided narrative.
Logic Takes a Backseat
Animal not only celebrates but thrives on the logical bankruptcy of its storytelling. The absence of a credible law enforcement presence in a murder-laden narrative and underdeveloped supporting characters like Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol divorce the film from any semblance of reality. The result is a chaotic concoction of male posturing and narrative negligence.
Kapoor and Deol’s commendable performances struggle in vain against the weight of underdeveloped characters and a daunting 3.5-hour runtime of this film. While Animal offers fleeting moments of spectacle, they prove insufficient to compensate for the lackluster narrative.
If you find yourself with 3.5 hours to spare, perhaps consider investing your time in more meaningful and fulfilling art forms.