Animal

[spslf]

*Animal* is a film that had all the potential to be a gripping action-drama but falters under its self-indulgent narrative and unnecessarily stretched runtime. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film follows Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor), the hotheaded son of industrialist Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor), who is fiercely loyal and protective of his family. The plot kicks off with Ranvijay returning after eight years to avenge an assassination attempt on his father, leading to a bloodbath and dramatic confrontations with his estranged family. The first half of the film is fast-paced, filled with slick action, family drama, and some entertaining set pieces, but the director fails to sustain the momentum, stretching the story unnecessarily into a bloated three-hour affair.

The film explores themes of father-son relationships, particularly the emotional dependence Ranvijay has on his father, who he elevates to a god-like status. This dynamic, while potentially poignant, feels overly exaggerated and lacks emotional maturity. As Ranvijay grapples with his father’s expectations, his character remains immature and shallow, unable to let go of his childhood adoration. This leads to a strained portrayal of toxic masculinity, where phallic humor, misogynistic undertones, and questionable portrayals of women abound. The film's treatment of its female characters, especially Rashmika Mandanna's role as Geetanjali, is problematic, with a scene where she slaps Ranbir’s character being a rather jarring moment of emotional conflict.

While the film struggles with direction and an inconsistent screenplay, the performances of Anil Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor stand out as its saving grace. Their father-son dynamic, though burdened by melodrama, is the heart of the film. Anil Kapoor delivers a nuanced performance as the father figure, and Ranbir Kapoor, despite the film's flaws, excels in his portrayal of an intense, emotionally conflicted son. Their scenes together, however, are few and far between, leaving audiences wanting more.

Despite some stylish action sequences and a decent music score, the film's overstretched nature and lack of coherent storytelling make it difficult to fully enjoy. The editing and continuity issues are apparent, and the film’s narrative feels like it was written on the fly, lacking the firm hand needed to execute such an ambitious story. Ultimately, *Animal* becomes a showcase of wasted potential, with the talents of its lead actors falling victim to bad writing and a bloated runtime.

In the end, *Animal* is worth watching only for the standout performances of Anil Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor. They manage to elevate the material, delivering performances that are sublime, but even their immense talent cannot save the film from its overall shortcomings.