290. Ek Villain Returns; movie review

 

EK VILLAIN RETURNS

Cert 15

129 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, bloody images, threat, sexual threat, sex references

Who's up for some choreographed fighting and storyline which bares absolutely no scrutiny?

Back in 2014, I wrote that the original Ek Villain kept me "engrossed throughout".

At the time, Indian cinema was awash with the same old subjects - angry fathers, unsuitable love matches and corrupt cops.

Thus, Mohit Suri's film had been a refreshing change.

Push on eight years and action movies are much more commonplace. So, Suri's sequel not only doesn't have a wow factor.

Sadly, it is also confusing and cliched to the point of prompting unintended laughter.

It stars Arjun Kapoor as the spoilt son of a rich industrialist and the number one suspect after a murder of a pop singer (Tara Sutaria).

It appears to be an open and shut case to all except an unorthodox detective (JD Chakravarthy) whose analysis leads in a different direction.

Meanwhile, a broody cab driver (John Abraham) stalks a mall salesgirl (Disha Patani) and convinces himself that she has fallen in love with him.

He even plans marriage to her but she demands a terrible price for her attention.

On the plus side, Kapoor gives every sinew to his role as the playboy who refuses to play by anyone's rules.

Meanwhile, Patani is compelling in her portrayal of an ace manipulator.

Unfortunately, Abraham baffled me. His anti-hero is a very strange mix of doormat and demon.

But the biggest problem with Ek Villain Returns is its giant plot holes. For example, Kapoor's character deliberately causes a murderous explosion and yet is never even questioned when the police finally catch up with him.

Suri's movie is too melodramatic with too many flashbacks and, by its end, I had no idea whom I was meant to be rooting for.

Perhaps that was the point?

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Reasons to watch: High intensity

Reasons to avoid: Confusing flashbacks

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? Arjun Kapoor was initially offered Ek Villain in 2014. But he could not take up the project as he was working on Tevar, produced by his father Boney Kapoor. 

The final word. Arjun Kapoor: "I have consistently tried to do films that connect to the youth and the masses and it feels great to see them enjoy Ek Villain Returns. I’m thrilled with the start that the film has got and I’m sure it will continue its momentum." India.com

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