BOTTOM LINE:
Rating: 3/5
Skin N Swear: Frequent Usage Of ‘F’ Word
Platform: Amazon Prime | Genre: Mystery Thriller |
What Is the Story About?
Jimmy (Roshan Matthews) is a nursing a heartbreak, but immediately finds a girl, Anu (Darshana Rajendran) in an online dating app. Jimmy immediately falls in love with her and decides to marry. He informs the same to his mom, as well.
However, all is not well on the Anu’s end. She has an abusive father, but nothing else is known about her. One day Jimmy takes her away from home and brings to his house. What happens when she goes missing? How Kevin (Fahadh Faasil), a close relative of Jimmy who works in a Cyber Security firm helps him is what the movie is all about?
Performances?
Fahadh Faasil is a wonderful talent, and we get to witness it again in C U Soon. The movie offers him nothing new, but within the space given to him, he leaves his mark, as usual. The focus is mainly on his strengths, eyes and face. He emotes fantastically and conveys the required emotions.
The best parts as far as Fahad’s acting is concerned come towards the final half an hour when the real emotional drama unfolds. It is incredibly subtle, yet leaves an impact. His acting alone makes the movie an easy one time watch.
Analysis
Mahesh Narayanan directs C U Soon. The inspiration for the making of the movie is so obvious. It is the Hollywood movie Searching, but here the director presents an entirely different tale using the same style.
The whole movie takes place from the perspective of the cameras in various online devices and social media platforms. It is what makes the narrative unique and different from everything else out there. However, if one looks beyond it and sees the story, we get a regular one.
The success of any film attempting such a unique narrative style is when the viewer is engaged in the story and not distracted by it. Looking at C U Soon, it can be said that the director Mahesh Narayanan has succeeded in the attempt.
There is an initial overdose of the narrative style, making one confused and leaving with a feeling of trying too much. However, it doesn’t continue that way and settles down immediately. We are sucked into the narrative with simple yet effective performances. Each actor is on the mark and does their parts clinically, well.
The simple love story in the opening is smoothly blended into a thriller. The proceedings and the editing give us an edge of the seat feel. The actual content, however, lacks the freshness as the story progresses.
The thriller gives away to an emotional heart touching drama in the final portions. They are all done well, but the edge of the seat engagement is missing. It is all about the performances of the lead actor, and they do their jobs well.
Within the small duration, the movie has, it shifts from love story to thriller to an emotional drama. But, the good thing is that there is no jarring effect.
The only problem is the routine content that gets predictable and little drag towards the end. The ‘predictability’ is more so considering it is a Malayalam movie. What we see is a regular feature of the industry. It keeps making these emotional dramas with similar themes from time to time. The stylistic choice to narrate is what is different here.
Overall, C U Soon is a compelling watch due to the performances from its main cast. Its routineness lies in the story, but the unique visual style and smooth screenplay overcome it to the degree that it is a fairly easy one time watch.
Other Artists?
C U Soon has limited artists. Apart from Fahadh Faasil, we have Roshan Matthews and Darshana Rajendran in critical roles. Roshan and Darshan do a competent job as is expected of them. Roshan takes care of the first half an hour with his charm and sweet persona whereas Darshana comes into the play during the final half an hour. She is sure to make one moist-eyed.
The rest of the actors have limited parts, but they fit the roles given to them like Saiju Kurup playing Dr Prashanth or Amaalda Liz as Sanjana. They are very brief but help in taking the narrative forward.
Music and Other Departments?
Gopi Sundar provides the background score for the movie. It is quite effective. The various moods of the story are adequately enhanced with his work. The entire film has been shot using an iPhone, according to the makers. They deserve kudos for bringing the quality that they have using the device. The effects, which form the narrative style, looks a bit overdone and clumsy initially. But, one gets used to it soon. The editing is neat. If not for it, the whole thing would have fallen flat. The writing is okay, at best. But, the actors lift it with their efforts.
Highlights?
Casting
Performances
Editing
Screenplay
Background Score
Drawbacks?
Drops Pace Towards The End
Clumsiness In Parts (Related To The Visual Style)
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
C U Soon Malayalam Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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