“Animal” Movie Review: A Disjointed Exploration of Toxic Masculinity

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, Tripti Dimri, Charu Shankar, Babloo Prithiveeraj, Saurabh Sachdeva, Prem Chopra

Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

What’s Good: Ranbir Kapoor putting everything in, but for what? The interval block could be a separate short film, and I would surely hoot for that one

What’s Bad: Everything you thought was bad in Arjun Reddy/Kabir Singh it’s worse here

Loo Break: There should be a competition among friends of who can sit through this almost three-and-a-half-hour film without taking a loo break, and that would have an interesting outcome than this film

Watch or Not?: Only and only if you can leave the cinema hall after the first half

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 3 hours 21 minutes

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Animal” attempts to challenge criticisms of his previous works but ends up as an ego-driven statement rather than a compelling story.

The plot centers on Ranvijay Singh (Ranbir Kapoor), a son obsessed with his millionaire father, Balbir Singh (Anil Kapoor). Ranvijay’s love turns into a disturbing obsession, leading to questionable decisions, including involvement with the fiance of his heart donor.

The film falters in Vanga’s writing, directing, and editing choices, with unnecessary scenes contributing to a prolonged 3-hour and 21-minute runtime.

Ranbir Kapoor’s commendable performance is hindered by a poorly constructed character, and Anil Kapoor’s role as a busy father lacks depth. Rashmika Mandanna’s attempt at a strong female lead falls victim to regressive portrayals of toxic relationships.

Cinematography by Amit Roy excels in action but fails to elevate the film overall. The much-hyped 18-minute interval block stands out, but the momentum is lost in the lackluster second half.

While previously praised, the music fails to resonate within the film, missing opportunities to enhance emotional moments. Only Arjan Vailly manages to make an impact due to its association with a well-directed scene.

“Animal” feels like a personal statement from Vanga, attempting to push toxic masculinity boundaries without a cohesive narrative. The film’s celebration of manhood comes across as forced, and the weak plot restricts it from being more than a mildly entertaining experience.

Ranbir Kapoor’s performance deserved a better platform, making “Animal” a missed opportunity in the hands of an ambitious but misguided director.