Starring: Thalapathy Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Trisha, Arjun, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priya Anand, Mysskin, Mansoor Ali Khan, and others
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj
Producer: Lalit Kumar
Music Director: Anirudh Ravichander
Box office emperor Thalapathy Vijay joined forces with sensational filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj for the action drama, “Leo.” The film has been generating buzz since its announcement, and its anticipation has now reached unprecedented levels. Advance bookings suggest that “Leo” will set the ticket windows on fire. Let’s see if this highly anticipated film lives up to the hype.
Story:
Parthiban (Thalapathy Vijay) operates a café in Theog, Himachal Pradesh. He is an ordinary family man living with his wife Satya (Trisha) and their two children. One day, a group of thugs attacks Parthiban’s cafe, threatening to harm his daughter and a worker. With no other option, Parthiban takes matters into his own hands and eliminates the gangsters, leading to trouble for his family. Amidst this chaos, gangsters Antony Das (Sanjay Dutt) and Harold Das (Arjun) enter his life, convinced that Parthiban is their family member, Leo Das (Thalapathy Vijay). Who exactly is this Leo Das? What happened to him? How does Parthiban navigate this turmoil? These questions drive the rest of the film.
Plus Points:
The film’s first half is engaging, deliberately paced to establish characters and the protagonist’s world. It immerses viewers in Parthiban’s life, with a standout café fight scene. Vijay’s vulnerability is skillfully portrayed, enhancing the action sequences in the first half. Thalapathy Vijay showcases his acting prowess in “Leo,” with well-executed action scenes keeping the audience engrossed.
The interval block is decent and sets the stage for the second half. “Leo” features exceptional action sequences and solid cinematography. Trisha delivers a fine performance. The film gains momentum in the pre-climax and climax sections, offering moments of joy for fans of the franchise, along with a small surprise at the end.
Minus Points:
The second half, often crucial in determining a film’s success, struggles with the dreaded second-hour syndrome. Surprisingly, the flashback portions are weakly written, a letdown from a director like Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his terrific films. The pace slows down after the interval, with limited progression in the story. Poor writing hampers the impact of Sanjay Dutt and Arjun, and other characters like Priya Anand are underutilized. Emotional scenes lack punch, and the Telugu version features a disappointing song. Additionally, small details such as paper cuttings and engravings are in Tamil, which affects the overall experience.
Technical Aspects:
Anirudh’s background score, while good in parts, doesn’t reach the level of his best works like “Master” and “Vikram.” The songs fail to leave a mark due to subpar translation. Manoj Paramahamsa’s cinematography stands out, particularly in action sequences. The editing quality varies, with the second half falling short. VFX effects in the hyena scene are well-executed, but the car chase sequence appears cartoonish due to subpar VFX.
Lokesh Kanagaraj’s direction, while proficient in the first half, falters in the second. While the story might be familiar, the storytelling quality matters, and “Leo” falls short of expectations, offering an okay product.
Verdict:
“Leo” is an action-packed entertainer primarily relying on Thalapathy Vijay’s performance. The first half engages despite slow pacing, but the film faces challenges in the second half. Weakly designed characters and the underwhelming flashback portions are notable drawbacks. The film holds moments for franchise fans but falls short of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s usual standards. The box office prospects depend on Vijay’s stardom and the franchise factor.