GOOD BAD UGLY MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Arjun Das, Karthikeya Dev, Prabhu, Prasanna
Director: Adhik Ravichandran
If Good Bad Ugly came with an ingredient list, ‘Ajith Kumar’ would be in 72-point font, while ‘narrative logic’ might be a footnote near the barcode – approach accordingly. Director Adhik Ravichandran, an avowed fan, has crafted less a movie and more a high-energy delivery system for Ajith Kumar moments.
Knowing this beforehand helps significantly. Going in expecting a brainy thriller will lead to disappointment; treating it like meet up with a dumb yet amusing acquaintance makes the ride much smoother. The film knows what it is – a colourful, hyper-stylized vehicle designed to celebrate its star. The plot itself is simple stuff: gangster AK (Ajith) tries the straight life after promising his wife Ramya (Trisha), serves time, but gets pulled back in when his estranged son Vihaan (Karthikeya Dev) finds trouble in Spain, orchestrated by villain brothers Johnny and Jammie (Arjun Das). It’s familiar territory, serving primarily as a framework for Ajith to look effortlessly cool while taking down disposable bad guys.
And Ajith is undeniably the main event. He’s clearly enjoying himself, bringing the energy and trademark ‘gethu’ that fans adore. The film is generously sprinkled with nods to his previous hits – lines, mannerisms, even remixed song cues – essentially a highlight reel woven into a loose narrative. He handles the action and the style with ease, carrying the entire production.
Following this Ajith-powered steamroller comes Arjun Das, pulling double duty as antagonists Johnny and Jammie. You have to almost admire their sheer persistence, even while wondering if they somehow missed the globally distributed memo titled “Subject: Seriously, Just Don’t Mess With AK”. While perhaps not the sharpest tools in the villain shed, Das does inject a necessary interactive energy. His presence allows for some genuinely effective tit-for-tat comedy, particularly livening up the film’s second half and providing a welcome break from the one-man demolition show.
The film’s commitment to style over substance means it often operates in a logic-optional zone. This can be either grating or strangely entertaining, depending heavily on your mood and, crucially, your viewing environment. Good Bad Ugly feels tailor-made for a packed theatre buzzing with fan energy. The cheers and whistles aren’t interruptions; they’re arguably necessary atmosphere that elevates the experience, making the more ridiculous moments feel like part of a collective event. Attempting this solo on a streaming service later might be a considerably less joyful.
Technically, GV Prakash Kumar’s score dials up the energy to match the visuals, even if leaning heavily on nostalgia with remixes. So, should you watch it? If you’re an Ajith fan looking for maximum screen presence, catching this with a lively crowd could be genuinely fun. The cinematic equivalent of mainlining espresso while listening to a remixed greatest hits album.