Yash’s much awaited film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has finally arrived and the reviews are not unanimous.
Some are praising the film’s scale, action sequences, production value and Yash’s commanding screen presence and others are downvoting it for its confusing screenplay, inconsistent editing and loud background score.
The first half seems to be one of the most important talking points. Many people have hailed the way director Geetu Mohandas tries to depict elegant and brutal action. Yash has himself actually owned the screen in some movies and his screen presence is one of the best elements of the film.
The interval block has also been well received in the early days, with some initial reactions calling it an absolutely fine piece with its action, slow-motion sequences and excellent production design.
However, the film has also been met with strong criticism for its execution. Some people feel that the editing is very erratic, with fast and chaotic cuts making some scenes almost impossible to follow.
The background music has also been a point of debate with some viewers saying that the loud score sometimes takes precedence over the dialogues.
The film’s long length of nearly three hours is also a concern to audiences who feel like the story is unable to sustain momentum. There have been criticisms that the screenplay is not clear and the introduction of character is sloppy.
The dialogue writing has also received criticism from the readers who find some aspects of the dialogue confusing and difficult to connect with.
The film also has to balance action and story with its plot. Some critics say that the movie is too much about fights, slow motion and gunfire and there isn’t a lot of emotional depth or storytelling.
There are also several references to excessive sexual material and the movie is not much more than a “visual spectacle” for the viewer as far as they are concerned.
At the same time, the performances have been received positive feedback. Yash is always being praised for his screen presence and Kiara Advani has got some praise from people who feel that she has given her strongest performance. Some moments and the climax have also been called nice too.
Interestingly, the reactions seem almost unanimously divided to what extent Toxic can appeal to audiences outside of the South.
Some early viewers find its dark, stylised presentation and action-heavy approach to be a very good fit with Yash’s fans but some see the film’s confusing narrative and long runtime as a challenge for the North Indian market.
Overall, Toxic seems to be a movie of extremes. Its ambitious visuals, stylish action, production scale, Yash’s screen presence and some of the best sequences are appreciated while its editing, screenplay, dialogue, loud BGM and long run time are derided.
As reactions ranging from “Yash owns the screen” to calling the film a “disaster,” Toxic is clearly creating a divided reaction.
How the film will ultimately find its audience will be decided on how people respond to its unusual mix of fairy-tale aesthetics, dark narrative and high-octane action.
