‘Dear Friend’ movie review: Tovino Thomas’ drama wastes a promising build-up

Not spelling every thing out and never underestimating the intelligence of the viewers is a advantage, however leaving them hanging mid-air with out enough explanations in the direction of the top, is actually not. Extra so, when the movie, until that time, had managed to construct some degree of anticipation by its evenly-paced narrative. Not lifting the shroud of thriller — on this case round a personality — doesn’t add a lot to the movie, however finally ends up taking away quite a bit.

Filmmaker Vineeth Kumar’s second outing Pricey Good friend revolves round a bunch of younger Malayalis staying collectively at a home in Bengaluru. They get together, they’ve enjoyable, they lean on one another in troubled instances, and even have gentle fights at instances, similar to most different buddies. Vinod (Tovino Thomas), Arjun (Arjun Lal), Shyam (Arjun Radhakrishnan) and Sajith (Basil Joseph) try arduous to safe funding for a start-up, whereas Jannath (Darshana Rajendran) is practising as a psychologist. Issues are wanting good for all of them, however their world turns upside-down when Vinod disappears from their lives one superb day, leaving no hint.

When Vineeth Kumar made his debut seven years again with Ayal Njanalla, he had an awesome theme on his arms, nevertheless it ended up being a disappointment within the execution half. In comparison with that, in Pricey Good friend, written by Sharfu and Suhas, he appears to be like very a lot in management, positive of what he needs from the fabric. The script takes its personal time in portray an image of the world that they inhabit, their idiosyncrasies and every of their private considerations. One among them needs to develop out of the shadow of his rich household and tread his personal path, whereas one other is higher alternatives because the start-up shouldn’t be taking off as they meant.

Vinod shouldn’t be the odd one out; slightly he is among the pivots round which the group revolves, making his unexplained disappearance much more critical for them. A great a part of the movie is written across the buddies’ quest to unravel Vinod’s true id and the explanations for his disappearance. An correct image of the person stays elusive, from all the data that comes trickling in from the numerous doorways that they knock at. The viewers too stays hopeful of some type of rationalization, however what the movie serves in the long run — after all of the painful work of constructing the suspense — seems to pour chilly water onto all such expectations.

It nearly offers an impression of a scarcity of sufficient materials, after giving us an reverse impression all by. Or perhaps, that is all the fabric they’d and there’s nothing extra to be mentioned. Those that consider within the previous saying of the journey being extra essential than the vacation spot, would possibly take pleasure in the entire course of, however for the others, it may be a disappointment after they attain there.

Pricey Good friend is at present operating in theatres