Movie Name: The Greatest of All Time
Release Date: September 05, 2024
Rating: 2.5/5
Cast:.Vijay, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Sneha, Laila, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Ajmal Ameer, Mohan
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Producers: Kalpathi S. Aghoram, Kalpathi S. Ganesh, Kalpathi S. Suresh
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematographer: Siddhartha Nuni
Editor: Venkat Raajen
Thalapathy Vijay’s latest film, *The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT)*, hit theaters in both Tamil and Telugu, generating moderate expectations. Let’s dive into the review to see how it fared.
Story:
Gandhi (Vijay), a skilled member of the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS), successfully completes a mission in Kenya by taking down a terrorist leader, Menon (Mohan). Years later, during another mission in Bangkok, Gandhi tragically loses his son Jeevan (also played by Vijay). However, to his surprise, he later finds Jeevan alive in Russia. They return home together, but soon after, mysterious events involving SATS members begin to unfold. Gandhi sets out to uncover the truth. Is Jeevan really his son? Does he have any connection to Menon? The answers to these questions form the crux of the mystery.
Positive Aspects:
Thalapathy Vijay shines in the dual roles of Gandhi and Jeevan, showcasing his versatility. His performance as the antagonist Jeevan is especially impressive, while his calm and stylish portrayal of Gandhi with a salt-and-pepper look adds depth to the character. Vijay’s ability to handle both roles smoothly is the film’s biggest strength.
Supporting actors like Prabhudeva, Jayaram, Prashanth, and Sneha offer decent performances in their limited roles.
The face-off between the two characters played by Vijay is one of the film’s standout moments, and the action sequences are well-executed. The climax, set during a live CSK cricket match, is bound to entertain Vijay’s fans, despite its length.
Negative Aspects:
The storyline is predictable and follows a tried-and-tested formula. Although director Venkat Prabhu aimed for an unpredictable screenplay, the narrative is straightforward, reducing the excitement for viewers familiar with such films. A more compelling script could have elevated the movie.
The first half is slow-paced, and the audience may find their patience tested. While the second half picks up with intense face-off scenes, the overall runtime feels too long. Even with Vijay’s strong performance, the movie feels stretched.
There are noticeable plot gaps, especially in the action scenes where the villains are unable to land a single hit on the hero, a common but frustrating action movie trope.
Mohan’s portrayal of the villain, Menon, lacks substance, making the antagonist feel underwhelming. Meenakshi Chaudhary’s role is minor, with her presence limited to a few scenes and songs. Cameos by Trisha and Sivakarthikeyan are surprising but have no real impact on the story.
Some of the humor falls flat, and the post-credits sequence seems to be directly lifted from a failed Hollywood movie.
Technical Aspects :
Venkat Prabhu’s direction and screenplay leave much to be desired. The story feels overly conventional, and the sluggish pacing in the first half detracts from the film’s overall impact. The extended runtime further works against it.
On the technical front, the VFX team did a commendable job with Vijay’s de-aging, though some versions of the character look a bit off. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is forgettable, and many scenes, particularly in the first half, feel unnecessary and should have been cut. The cinematography is decent, and the production values are solid.
Verdict:
The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT) is a typical revenge-action drama that relies heavily on Vijay’s performance. His portrayal of the villainous Jeevan and the face-off scenes are the main highlights, but the film lacks novelty and excitement beyond that. The slow pacing, extended runtime, and several plot issues make it a tough watch for anyone other than die-hard Vijay fans.
