Thalapathy Vijay’s GOAT Movie Review: It’s sexist and utterly mindless, yet still manages to be entertaining.
Thalapathy Vijay’s GOAT movie offers plenty of entertainment in the first half, but the second half feels overly drawn out with excessive violence and drama. To enjoy this film, you might want to leave your brain at the door.
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Cast: Vijay, Prashanth Thyagarajan, Prabhu Deva, Meenakshi Chaudhary
The main twist in the movie GOAT occurs when Vijay loses his son in Thailand and struggles to recover his body. His son went missing from the hospital due to a tragic accident. The question remains: who orchestrated this cruel prank? This moment serves as a pivotal scene, showcasing the father’s emotional breakdown. In this scene, Thalapathy Vijay delivers a raw performance, completely unbothered by his appearance. As he confronts the reality of his son’s lifeless body and his backpack, he cries with an intensity that is truly heart-wrenching. The depth of his anguish is enough to resonate deeply with anyone watching.
As the movie progresses into the second half, it feels more like a stretch filled with excessive gunplay and action. Thalapathy Vijay, along with Prashanth and Prabhudheva, delivers strong performances as raw agents. While the concept of Thalapathy Vijay’s GOAT is intriguing, it lacks the depth of a well-crafted story. The VFX also fails to enhance the film. Like many South Indian films, this one includes sexist and misogynistic elements that have become normalized. It portrays a scenario where it’s acceptable for men to return home drunk every night, presented in a comedic light. Additionally, infidelity is depicted as normal when men on duty travel to Thailand and flirt with local women. This is one of the most straightforward spy thrillers I’ve seen so far.
It seems like the stitching isn’t quite right. Thalapathy Vijay takes on a dual role as both father and son. One character is entirely virtuous, while the other is shrouded in darkness, with a compelling backstory that explains his troubled nature. In the narrative, Gandhi (Vijay), together with Sunil (Prashanth), Kalyan (Prabhudheva), and Ajay (Ajmal Ameer), establishes the Special Anti-Terrorism Squad (SATS).
At times, it feels like you’re watching a poorly made Mission Impossible movie, or perhaps just a bad imitation. It’s important to remember that enjoying a film requires some thought. Director Venkat Prabhu, known for his previous works, struggles to keep the audience engaged, particularly in the second half. I don’t want to undermine the filmmaker’s efforts, but I genuinely think the first half was much stronger than the latter. Even during the climactic moments of CSK vs MI, where the audience should have been on their feet, Venkat Prabhu failed to make a lasting impression.
A Vijay fan tribute
The first half of GOAT is incredibly captivating, with the director skillfully setting the stage for a thrilling interval block that catches you off guard. There’s a rich mix of family drama and high-octane action across various global missions before the film reaches the interval. After the break, the story escalates with a showdown between Gandhi and Sanjay, and the director maintains a brisk pace. Throughout the film, Venkat Prabhu clearly showcases his admiration for Vijay, with nods to Kollywood classics like Ghilli and Thirumalai, especially evident in the climax. While there are moments where the film drags, Vijay’s outstanding performance, along with a talented ensemble cast, makes it easy to overlook these flaws. The director fully leverages Vijay’s signature charm, emotional depth, action sequences, dance moves, and humor, ensuring it resonates with both his fans and the wider audience.
Venkat Prabhu has consistently collaborated with his friends and family, and his cousin, Yuvan Shankar Raja, has composed the music for GOAT, just like in his earlier films. Yuvan has excelled with the background score, and the remix of an old Ilaiyaraja song is truly catchy. However, the Bhavathirini song, Chinna Chinna Kangal, which was created using AI, is particularly moving and soulful. GOAT is a delightful experience for Thalapathy Vijay fans and the audience alike. This Vijay film is an action-packed, entertaining, and wholesome ride!
