Indian critics aren't shying away from comparing 'Animal' to 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' in reviews

Early social media buzz has declared film a 'mega-blockbuster'

Entertainment Desk December 02, 2023
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The much-anticipated release day of Animal has led to the film quickly becoming the talk of the town. According to Indian portals such as Indian Express and India Today, as the morning shows concluded, fans immediately took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to share their enthusiastic reviews.

Early audiences, who caught Animal on its opening day, seemed to have unanimously given it a resounding thumbs-up, hailing it as a potential blockbuster. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga received widespread praise for his exceptional work on the film.

"The only person who is getting unanimous praise from everyone is Ranbir Kapoor, and rightfully so. He moulded himself like a true chameleon," said one X user. "In his debut film, he portrayed a soft boy madly in love. Throughout his career, he acted in vulnerable male characters with identity crises: broken in love or lost in ambition. In Animal, he did something else. The user went on to call the star's performance "astounding," adding a spoiler to their post. "We are lucky that we are living in an era Ranbir Kapoor is acting in," they concluded.

Another fan shared, "Travelled 45km in winter, and that too, on a bike at 8 am to just experience Ranbir's blockbuster film Animal at its best in terms of sound and vision. And What an experience. Totally blown away by the performance of the one and only, Ranbir Kapoor. Going a second time." Another devoted follower said, "I can again sit for those four hours for a thousand times over. This is the rise of a superstar."

One user of the microblogging site called it the "movie of the year." Another said, "I watched a masterpiece. The movie's run time is more than three hours But never felt out of place...Violence is at its peak. Not for the weak-hearted." Yet another shared, "I love the way Animal is not just selling in the name of action but also, people are connected to the emotions and the father-son relationship, I have seen this in almost all reviews and this is what is making the film very distinct to the other films which have released so far!"

However, there were also some naysayers and critics. "Animal could've been better if Sandeep Reddy Vanga didn't care so much about 'giving it back to wokes and feminists'. It's flattering how invested he is in 'triggering' people, like a 13-year-old edgelord who has just discovered Reddit. Ranbir is a delight to watch though." Yet another noted, "I feel bad for women out there (especially in college campuses and high schools) who will have to tolerate the 'giga chad/alpha male' behaviour that their love interests will now display after watching Animal which includes threatening to physically assault and harm."

One user asked and answered the question on everyone's mind. “Is Animal that bad?” they began. "I don't know, man. Is an alpha male theory-obsessed Delhi man-child proposing to a woman by saying. 'You have a big pelvis' bad for you? And that’s just the first 15 minutes of the movie." One X user shared a small clip of Deepika Padukone celebrating, captioning the same, "Animal getting trashed left and right. Oh, karma is doing her thing I see."

Offering a balanced perspective, one fan shared, "Animal has brilliant sound design, great background score and performances, but falters with its incohesive writing, out-of-focus cinematography and too many tangential scenes. I expected a twisted father-son drama but got a descent-into-madness film."

Many Indian publications also published their reviews of the offering. While Times of India did provide an extensive disclaimer and go into the film's negative aspects, when it came to Ranbir, the review read, "Animal relies heavily on Ranbir Kapoor’s talent and stardom. His raw sex appeal and unmatched intensity are the film’s highlights. One of the finest actors of this generation, you find yourself trapped in his troubled mind as his blood-soaked eyes seethe with rage."

NDTV described the film as "a sickeningly violent father-son action-drama" and further penned, "Ranbir delivers a powerful performance that is supported with customary elan by Anil Kapoor. But because the film is propelled in the main by problematic means and instincts, the efforts of the two stars can only go abegging. You want to look away when the two are peddling their wares."

Film Companion shared how the film seems like an "offensive" against Kabir Singh critics. "Animal is so busy lashing out that it forgets to behave like a film," the review read further, terming the film "needy." Anupama Chopra, in her review, called the film "cheerfully misogynistic," while also stating, "It's Oldboy meets The Legend of Maula Jatt."

Animal, which had its worldwide theatrical release on December 1, 2023, is helmed by the acclaimed director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The movie revolves around the intricate and tumultuous relationship between a father and son, promising a narrative loaded with emotions and compelling storytelling.

The early social media buzz has declared Animal a "mega-blockbuster," setting high expectations for its box office performance in the coming days. As audiences continue to flock to theatres, the film's success and impact on the cinematic landscape will undoubtedly unfold in the weeks to come.

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