Thalapathy Vijay’s The GOAT Review – Tries to live up to its title

The highly anticipated film "GOAT," starring Thalapathy Vijay and directed by Venkat Prabhu, has finally hit theaters on September 5th. With impressive advance bookings, it's poised for a blockbuster opening day. Our review will explore whether this "Greatest of All Time" film lives up to the hype​

Movie Name : The Greatest of All Time
​Release Date : September 05, 2024
Starring : 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

Story:

Gandhi (Vijay), a member of the Special Anti-Terrorist Squad (SATS), successfully completes a mission in Kenya to eliminate a terrorist gang led by Menon (Mohan). Years later, while on a mission in Bangkok, Gandhi finds his son Jeevan (also Vijay) dead. To his shock, he encounters Jeevan alive in Russia years later, and they return home together. Following their return, strange events begin to unfold involving the SATS members, and Gandhi embarks on a quest to uncover the truth. Did Gandhi succeed? Is Jeevan truly his son? Does he have any ties with Menon? These questions form the core of the movie’s mystery.

Plus Points:

Thalapathy Vijay showcases his versatility, excelling in the dual roles of Gandhi and Jeevan. His portrayal of Jeevan’s villainous side is particularly compelling, while his calm and composed performance as Gandhi, paired with a stylish salt-and-pepper look, adds gravitas to the character. Vijay’s ability to balance both roles with finesse is the film’s biggest asset.

Supporting actors like Prabhudeva, Jayaram, Prashanth, Mic Mohan, and Sneha deliver okay performances in their limited roles.

The face-off scenes between the two Vijays are well executed and engaging. The action sequences are well choreographed, and the climax, set during a live CSK cricket match, is a fan-pleaser, despite its extended runtime.

Minus Points:

The storyline is predictable and follows a familiar template. Despite Venkat Prabhu’s claims of an unpredictable screenplay, the narrative is easy to foresee, making it less engaging for viewers who are familiar with similar films. A more tightly written script could have elevated the film’s impact.

The first half is slow and drags, testing the audience’s patience. While the second half picks up with the intense face-off scenes, the film’s overall length remains a concern. Even though Vijay’s performance keeps the momentum going, the story feels stretched.

There are notable plot holes, especially in the action sequences where the villains fail to land a single shot on the protagonist, a common yet frustrating trope in action films.

Menon’s character, portrayed by Mohan, lacks depth, making the villain less impactful. Meenakshi Chaudhary’s role is underutilised, as she appears in only a few scenes and songs. The cameos by Trisha and Sivakarthikeyan are a pleasant surprise but have no impact on the film.

Some of the humour falls flat, and the end credits sequence feels like a direct copy from a flop Hollywood movie.

Technical Aspects:
Venkat Prabhu’s direction and screenplay are the film’s weak points. The story is conventional, and the slow pacing, especially in the first half, diminishes audience engagement. The film’s excessive runtime further hampers its appeal.
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On the technical side, the VFX team deserves credit for convincingly de-aging Vijay, although other versions of the character look awkward. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music fails to leave a mark, and several scenes, particularly in the first half, feel unnecessary and could have been trimmed. The cinematography is adequate. Production values are commendable.

Verdict:
On the whole, The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT) is a standard revenge action drama that leans heavily on Vijay’s performance. His portrayal of the villainous Jeevan and the face-off scenes are the film’s highlights, but beyond that, it offers little in terms of novelty or excitement. The slow pacing, long runtime, score, and numerous plot holes make it a challenging watch for all but die-hard Vijay fans.

Overall Rating: 2.75/5