Release Date: September 05, 2024
Telugu Bullet Rating: 2.5/5
Cast: Vijay, Sneha, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Prashanth, Prabhudeva, Mohan, Premji
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Producers: Kalpatti S Aghoram, Kalpatti S Ganesh, Kalpatti Suresh
Music Director: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography: Siddharth Nuni
Editor: Venkat Rajen
The Greatest of All Time directed by Venkat Prabhu and starring Tamil star Dalapathy Vijay alongside Sneha and Meenakshi Chaudhary, hit theaters with high expectations. Let’s dive into the review of this Tamil-Telugu bilingual release.
Story:
The story revolves around Gandhi (Vijay Joseph), who secretly works for India’s special anti-terrorist squad. During a mission in Kenya, he crosses paths with notorious mafia don Menon (Mike Mohan). Later, while on another mission with his wife Anu (Sneha) and son Jeevan, things take a drastic turn. The movie unfolds as it explores the consequences of that mission, the evolving relationship between father and son, and ultimately, how they end up on opposite sides. To find out what happens to Jeevan (Junior Vijay) and how the story concludes, you’ll need to watch the film.
Plus Points:
Dalapathy Vijay shines as the movie’s highlight. While we’ve seen his signature style and heroism before, his portrayal in this film, especially in the negative shade, is impressive. Prabhudeva, Jayam Ravi, and Prashant deliver solid performances in their respective roles.
Sneha does justice to her role, while Meenakshi Chaudhary impresses with her key scenes, including her glamor show. The second half of the film picks up pace, delivering high moments with Vijay’s powerful dialogues and a climactic showdown featuring commentary on a Chennai-Mumbai match that will please fans. The cameos of Trisha and Siva Karthikeyan in the second half are also noteworthy, adding to the film’s appeal.
Minus Points:
Unfortunately, “The Greatest of All Time” falls short of expectations. The lengthy runtime makes the movie feel stretched, especially in the first half, which struggles to engage. The film’s plot bears a resemblance to the Hollywood movie “Gemini Man,” which may disappoint those familiar with it. For others, the story may feel somewhat fresh, but it’s not particularly exciting.
Some scenes are over-the-top, lacking logic and becoming irritating. Meenakshi Chaudhary’s character doesn’t have much significance, feeling more like a token presence. Additionally, several predictable scenes and the post-climax portion, particularly for those who have seen “Gemini Man,” fail to impress.
Technical Aspects:
Production values are a mixed bag. While some aspects are well done, others fall short. Technically, Vijay’s de-aging look is commendable, and the team manages to present him convincingly in his younger avatar. However, the background VFX work in some scenes appears weak. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s songs are average, though his score elevates a few scenes. The cinematography is good, but the editing could have been tighter.
Director Venkat Prabhu, known for bringing something new to the table, seems to have missed the mark this time. While he incorporates fan-pleasing elements and attempts to adapt the “Gemini Man” concept to suit Vijay, his direction lacks the impact of his previous films.
Verdict:
Overall, The Greatest of All Time showcases Vijay’s talent, especially in a negative role, which will thrill his fans. However, despite a few decent moments, the film falls short of delivering a “wow” factor. With a stretched storyline and a predictable screenplay, those expecting something fresh from Venkat Prabhu may leave disappointed. Ultimately, the film doesn’t quite live up to its ambitious title.
