The GOAT

The Greatest of All Time (The GOAT), starring Thalapathy Vijay, is finally out in theaters after a long wait. A dual role played by Vijay, this Tamil action-thriller, also released in Telugu, spices up this story of mystery and revenge. The GOAT is suspense, drama, and thrilling action sequence blend that will be a treat to die-hard Vijay fans.

Plot

Gandhi (Vijay), a Special AntiTerrorist Squad (SATS) specialist, returns from Kenya having completed a dangerous mission against the terrorist group Menon (Mohan) and a skillful man. Later in life, Gandhi learns his son Jeevan (also played by Vijay) was killed in a mission in Bangkok. But they later return home together, with Jeevan found alive in Russia. Within months of their return, all sorts of funny things begin to occur to the SATS members, and Gandhi sets out to discover what’s happening. Jeevan’s identity, his relationship with Gandhi, and Menon’s role in the unfolding chaos are the film’s central mysteries.

Performance

Vijay plays Gandhi and Jeevan equally well and shows astounding versatility. He adds a real richness to each character and counteracts the Gandhian veneer with the visceral, darker side of Jeevan. But his scenes as the bad guy are especially intriguing. Prabhu Deva, Jayaram, Prashanth, and Sneha are all fine in their roles but are somewhat overpowered by Vijay. Prabhudeva and Prashanth lift some patches of their comedy to keep the viewers on their toes.

Direction and Screenplay

The direction by Venkat Prabhu is competent but the storyline is formulaic. The predictability of the plot saps the impact while he tries to put twists and suspense. The first half is slow-paced and prolonged sequences are too long for what is essentially a thriller of this scale. The film doesn’t gain momentum until the face-off scenes between Gandhi and Jeevan but the story feels stretched overall. The film could have been made more compact and the pacing and effect would have been much enhanced.

Music

The music by Yuvan Shankar Raja with its essence of a film’s action thriller vibe, doesn’t stay long. Where the background score really helps is when there’s some action and it amps things up to be pretty intense in such moments, but it isn’t really memorable in any great way. It could have been done with a message that was stronger musically to help the story have some depth to both dramatic and suspenseful moments.

Theme

Revenge, loyalty, and family bonds are the themes of the GOAT. Gandhi’s search for the truth about Jeevan and the forces at work to destroy him is a story of what one will do to protect their own. It’s also a film about duality and the toll of vengeance through the vague connection of son and father. Though these themes are interesting, they don’t bring any new ground to the movie, yet it still feels formulaic.

Conclusion

Vijay’s acting in a dual role is the highlight of The Greatest of All Time. But the predictable plot, dull pacing, and long-running time take away from it in any way. The action sequences, and the face-offs of the two characters, are all very engaging, but it just isn’t enough to take this above and beyond a standard revenge thriller. The GOAT will be a must-watch for die-hard Vijay fans, but not much for the rest of the audience. Thus, visit now on iBOMMA to watch the film.