The most awaited day for Vijay fans have finally arrived, the release of Theri. After an experimental film Puli, Vijay gets back on to his commercial route.
The trailers released with scenes of Vijay singing ‘twinkle twinkle little star’ to goons and some other scenes with typical supernatural somersaults, were the only anticipated scenes with relief spaces in this so-called mass-entertainer.
As the film reel begins to roll, there is so much wait for the hero’s entry scene. He may crush down a wall, jump from a helicopter or even sucker punch some tool for extorting money, but NO, we see our hero sitting behind a bike fixing it. Vijay’s daughter Nivi, acted by Nainika, is seen standing next to him footing impatiently. Then a car speeds pass a puddle nearby splashing water over her. This moment we think that we will get to see joseph Kuruvilla’s face and see him rushing behind the car and printing a high-five on the driver’s cheek or even crack some bones. The chase happens but it ends differently with the driver being requested to apologize.
After 20 minutes into the movie, everything becomes predictable. Atlee, as it’s his second movie, tried to take some different turn and make it alluring but failed to do so. Everyone could predict what’s going to happen next. When the movie begins with a mass hero as a mouse, it basically lays out the whole script saying that there are going to be flashback stories to go through. First one in which we see the hero as a tiger and next where we see how he became a mouse. Atlee’s storyline ticks all the boxes.
This can be overlooked in expectation of anything more lucrative but sad to say that, most mass entertainment scenes were also the copies of all the stunts that have been done and featured in every one of the previous movies. Nothing new there. Even at times, it felt like I am watching the 100th remake version of Rajinikanth’s Baasha. Even Chatriyan and Ramana flashed through my neurons as the story played on the screen.
Amy Jackson, as a teacher, was only an eye candy. Somehow, she still needs to convince people that she can speak the regional languages. As for Samantha who plays Vijay’s wife, she quite justifies the role. The biggest to look out for after Vijay is the legendary director Mahendran. His dialogue delivery, acting skills and expressions were flawless top-class performance. Nainika is just adorable and sweet with all the father-daughter conversations in the movie, gives something positive to take back. George C. Williams cinematography does a pretty swell job, bringing out the beauty of Kerala. GV Prakash’s songs are of some relief in between the movie which defies the absurdity.
To summarize, the movie is rather predictable with emotional ups and downs with great performances.