Wednesday, December 30, 2020

24 — Time Travel, South Indian Style

A scientist invents a time machine but his evil twin brother is after it and will go to any lengths to get the device in his hands.

We can't get enough Suriya. Luckily director/writer Vikram Kumar knew that and cast him in a triple role in this movie. Suriya played the inventor, the evil twin brother, and the inventor's grown son. He was so good that I kept forgetting it was one actor instead of three, which is saying something. 

I wish Christopher Nolan watched 24 before he did Tenent. Nolan only wishes he knew how to explain a complex time travel plot the way this did. I really loved the way VK carried off 24's complicated plot which called back to every little thing that was used at the beginning of the film. VK didn't miss a trick. 

It's at least half an hour too long and a slow starter which is often the case for Indian films. The love story was odd, partly because they didn't give Samantha enough to do except stand around looking adorable. However, there was also an odd stalker-ish element to the funny way the guy was keeping her interested in him. I don't think it played that way in India at all, but eventually it seemed a bit mean.

This phrase has been used in our home by everyone more than once by now - the morning after viewing - "I'm a watch mechanic. This is child's play to me." It gets funnier each time you see it in the movie and we love it. 

Rating — Introduction to Bollywood (come on in, the water's fine!)

No comments:

Post a Comment