Well, well, well, time for another controversial Sandeep Reddy Vanga movie. “Animal,” the latest offering from Vanga, takes us into the troubled lives of rich men who are dealing with their inner demons. “Arjun Reddy” and “Kabir Singh” ko toh audience ne hit bana hi di thi, toh Vanga sahab le aaye ek aur movie that ‘celebrates’ toxic masculinity… smh. In this 203-minute movie, Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Ranvijay, a chain-smoking engineer with daddy issues deeper than your darkest secrets. A gripping tale of revenge and family dynamics, and a sometimes-good-but-mostly-bad protagonist, “Animal” is about Ranvijay doing everything he can to get the love of his father. But does the movie get the love of the audience? For me, it doesn’t. I can never understand how the celebration of toxic characters can be a thing of joy.
Plot
Meet Ranvijay, a rich Delhi ka launda with daddy issues so deep, that even Freud would need a ladder. All thanks to his emotionally unavailable father Balbir, Ranvijay grows up to be aggressive AF and hungry for special treatment 24/7. The plot thickens when Balbir is attacked, and Ranvijay’s life becomes a chaotic mix of revenge, territorialism, and the ever-so-present toxic masculinity. He decides ki ab bohot hua, and goes all guns blazing (literally) to seek revenge and ensure no one touches his family ever again. But who is his enemy? Is he confident, or just throwing stones in the dark?
Performances
To start things off, Ranbir Kapoor has killed it. We can see a mixtape of his career’s various shades in Ranvijay. We see shades of Saawariya, Rockstar, and even Sanju in his portrayal of Ranvijay. Hate his character, but gotta appreciate Ranbir’s acting skills here. Kapoor’s raw sex appeal and unmatched intensity are the clear winners here. Anil Kapoor, as always is at his best. Even while playing an emotionless father, he takes up the emotional weight of the movie. Now, that’s what the OGs do. His tired, regretful eyes conveyed a lot of stuff Balbir couldn’t say. Bobby Deol, who btw has been heavily underutilized in a mysterious role, brings a storm of wildness, almost matching Ranbir’s intensity.
Direction and Writing
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s direction is like a teenager trying to impress everyone at a party with flashy moves. He thinks he is pulling off all cool moves, but is simply fcking up. Har baar ki tarah is baar bhi he glorifies toxic masculinity and har baar ki tarah is baar bhi the audience is gonna buy it. And I can’t understand how or why. First half sahi hai ngl, all thanks to the batshit crazy action sequences. But the second half is just too bland. The film’s narrative, though promising a fresh, psychology-driven path, fcks up due to Vanga’s need to show us that there is going to be a second part in the future. The dialogues are too childish and self-contradictory and some of the scenes just make you facepalm so hard. I could literally hear people say ‘Wtf is this?’ every 2 minutes in the theatre.
Screenplay and Cinematography
Okay, first of all, this is hardly a 150-minute movie, forget 203 minutes. It is like a buffet with some parts juicy and the others overcooked. The result? You feel both stuffed and unsatisfied. The action sequences are wild asf, and I really loved them (the hotel sequence is >>>). The film’s cinematography is cool– neither too bad nor very amazing. However, it stands out in capturing the intensity of the Ranbir Kapoor-Bobby Deol fight sequence, elevated by B Praak ke vocals. Also, you gotta agree that the music album is one of the best this year. And you also gotta agree Jamal Jamaloo steals the show. Sorry, I don’t make the rules here.
“Animal” could’ve been the wild party we all secretly want to attend, but it ends up being more of a backyard barbecue with some questionable choices, like, “Why are we having human meat?” Despite Ranbir Kapoor’s stellar performance, the film’s lack of substance leaves you craving more. It’s a rebel without a cause, a Tinder date with potential that fizzles out. Maybe in the next Sandeep Reddy Vanga film, the real conversation will be between the director and a coherent script. Until then, “Animal” is a wild ride that feels more like a petting zoo than a jungle safari.
