Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and others
Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Language: Hindi and Telugu
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
In the much-anticipated cinematic collaboration between Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol, Animal proves to be a colossal disappointment that leaves audiences questioning the sanity of its creators. Despite the star-studded cast and the promise of a gripping narrative, the film falls flat on every conceivable level, delivering an incoherent mess that squanders the talents of its lead actors.
Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his previous work in Kabir Singh, fails to replicate his earlier success, instead delivering a convoluted storyline that lacks direction and purpose. The attempt to weave a complex tale of family dynamics, power struggles, and revenge results in a chaotic narrative that leaves viewers bewildered rather than engaged.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga has a thing with misogyny and films objectifying women – Not sure if this is his mindset or if he finds objectifying women cool.
After watching the trailer, I was excited and eagerly waiting for Animal. I was disappointed after watching the film. Period. It couldn’t live up to the expectations it created with its trailer.
I would repeat – Animal is an illogical and misogynistic film with power-packed performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and the man ruling the screen – Bobby Deol.
Animal is next-level misogynistic – starting from the dialogue to the scenes, the film shows no respect towards women. Women are beaten up, and treated as mere sex objects. It’s 2023 and if we are still promoting this, it’s sad.
Yes, it’s a story of a father-son relationship and how Ranvijay (played by Ranbir Kapoor) is madly in love with his papa Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor) and his love for his family but it reflects a senseless plot. When Bobby gets to know of his brother’s death. He kills the messenger and starts having sex with his newly wedded third wife. Like seriously?
The fight scene with masks and Punjabi song is the only highlight for me. And honestly, I lost interest in the film after that. All I was waiting for was Bobby Deol.
Ranbir Kapoor, usually a charismatic and versatile performer, struggles to salvage the film with his portrayal of a conflicted character. His efforts are hampered by a poorly developed script that fails to establish a connection between the audience and the characters. Bobby Deol, despite his earnest attempt to infuse life into his role, is left grappling with a poorly defined character arc that borders on the absurd. The makers have wasted Bobby Deol’s potential.
The film’s cinematography and editing, touted as potential highlights, only amplify the confusion. Rapid and disjointed transitions between scenes contribute to the overall sense of disarray, making it difficult for viewers to follow the plot. The excessive use of slow-motion sequences becomes more of a distraction than an enhancement, further detracting from the strained narrative.
While the film’s promotional material promised a gripping thriller, “Animal” unfortunately devolves into a hodgepodge of clichés and inconsistencies. The screenplay, riddled with melodramatic dialogues and predictable twists, lacks the subtlety and nuance required for a film of this nature.
Animal is a cinematic misstep that not only fails to showcase the talents of its celebrated cast but also highlights the pitfalls of a poorly executed script and direction. The one-star rating is a testament to the film’s inability to live up to the expectations set by its pre-release hype. Save yourself from this cinematic catastrophe, and choose to invest your time in a more deserving piece of storytelling.