Thalapathy Is The G.O.A.T Movie Review : An action-packed entertainer, despite a predictable plot

Story: An elite anti-terrorism squad agent suffers a personal tragedy while on a mission in 2008. Now retired and leading a simple life, he joins forces with his former team again to prevent a disaster. However, in a twist of fate, a secret and a conspiracy jeopardise the squad’s mission.

Review: “Age doesn't matter. A lion is always a lion!” says a commentator in the film’s last sequence as cricketing superstar M S Dhoni is juxtaposed with special agent M S Gandhi (Vijay) taking on the villain. The movie doffs the hat to the Tamil film superstar who plays a Special Anti-Terrorism Squad (SATS) member and has a double role.

Writer and director Venkat Prabhu’s outing begins in 2008, with Gandhi's team retrieving stolen uranium from Rajeev Menon (Mohan), a former SATS agent gone rogue. A foiled mission and a tragedy follow, and the story fast-forwards to 2024. A retired Gandhi leads a quiet and simple life but is drawn back into the world of espionage, and a chain of events leads him to stop a terrorist plot threatening India.

With uranium, terrorists, conspiracies, and treason, Thalapathy is the GOAT’s premise doesn’t have anything terribly fresh to offer, though it boasts impressive action sequences and Vijay's undeniable charisma. The out-and-out actioner doesn’t pretend to be a finessed spy saga as you settle in for glaring loopholes and unconvincing events and tracks. Its pacing is uneven, with drawn-out sequences and songs disrupting the narrative and adding to the three-hour runtime. While Siddhartha Nuni’s cinematography adds to the punch, the special effects, particularly the explosions, look gimmicky, and the de-ageing technology is noticeable. While serviceable, Yuvan Shankar Raja's music doesn't leave a lasting impression.

Thalapathy will especially entice hardcore Vijay fans as he performs slick stunts as effortlessly as lighter scenes, primarily featuring his wife, Anu (Sneha), and his colleagues Sunil (Prashanth), Kalyan Sundaram (Prabhu Deva), and boss Nazeer (Jayaram). Vijay's performance is captivating, and the supporting cast adds depth to the story. In his usual comedic role, Yogi Babu provides some lighthearted moments as cricketers MS Dhoni and Subramaniam Badrinath appear in the climax.

Thalapathy will appeal primarily to Vijay's loyal fanbase. While the film is entertaining, it could have benefited from a fresher premise and a tighter runtime.