RRR

In a lot of ways, this review may come as a surprise to many of my readers. Beyond my final score (spoiler, it's amazing), RRR is a subset of cinema I've never given a whole lot of attention to. 

I've seen martial arts films, indie foreign films, and plenty of both with subtitles...but I've rarely partaken in the sometimes massive beast that is Indian blockbusters (or Chinese blockbusters for that matter). 

Through a lot of suggestion and regretting not seeing it in theaters, I was able to rectify that once RRR - India's massive blockbuster from earlier this year - came to Netflix.  

One of my favorite elements of writing movie reviews is convincing people to watch a specific film, and getting the satisfaction when they enjoy it as much, or more as I do. RRR (stands for Rise, Roar, Revolt) is one of those and destined to be one of my very favorite of 2022. Especially now that it's viewable from the comfort of your own couch, there's little excuse to skip diving into this one. 

By the end of RRR, I'd sincerely forgiven most issues I come across, largely because I appreciated more and more the components that make it unique and, in a similar vein, make Indian cinema unique. At over three hours, it could definitely use a trimming, probably by a good 15 minutes or more, but the same could be said about The Raid 2, and that's a damn masterpiece. 

I think many people's "issue" with RRR (initially, at least) will be just how zany and energetic it is. Just looking at the poster for example, it's not as...polished(?) as we (normal mainstream American audiences) are used to. So too is RRR's first 20-30 minutes. The storytelling feels a bit clunky and the action, while impressive, feels silly. Both of those elements are present by the end, but damn if I didn't love RRR all the more for it along the way. In probably the most important of ways, the amount that RRR leans into its cultural heritage of Indian blockbusters is its biggest strength. Not only is it a plot that instills a lot of patriotism in its country, but it embraces all the fun authenticity that Bollywood and movies like it have produced. Musical numbers? You got it. Action that defies physics in laughable ways? You bet. Macho men who overact with their faces and physical movements? Absolutely. But...that's the point and it works so well. Through its authenticity and willingness to be big, and epic, and overdone, RRR becomes so, so endearing throughout its runtime. 

Aside from how much I enjoyed the cultural lesson it provides, a lot of this can be attributed to a cast that puts their all into it. Specific shoutouts should go to our leading men, Ram Charan (Raju) and N.T. Rama (Bheem). They have undeniable, brotherly chemistry, and the journey their friendship goes on is the film's anchor, and emotional heft. Our tale, while confusing at times, is Shakespearean in nature and (for the most part, as mentioned above), the film earns its epic runtime as the plot unfolds. Their friendship is the beating heart of the whole thing and provides many of the best scenes. 

And damn are there some "best" scenes...ones that are almost surefire guarantees to make it in the Rath Awards come end-of-year. A dance off, Bollywood style, is fused with so much infectious energy that it's hard to not get up and dance yourself. Meanwhile, there are several action setpieces that delight with zany, physically impossible stunts that would make Fast and Furious blush. Your first taste might be a little hard to swallow and almost too goofy, but again, by the end of RRR I was a humongous fan of the preposterous action. The finale, which includes a dual-wielding-piggy-back-jail-escape, is something to behold (there's a sentence I never thought I'd write). 

It's like that scene from Dumb & Dumber...
except much better looking

Then - as the best movies often do - you layer in all the filmmaking components and RRR really shines. Not only is the music inspiring and completely different than what we're used to in our blockbusters, but the actual editing and cinematography are outstanding, particularly in action scenes where they count most. There's a lot of slow motion by design - when you defy physics this often you have to slow things down so people know what just happened - but it often feels like an Indian 300 with graphic-novel-esque imagery during slow-motion, and very R-rated, killings. Aside from some weaker special effects, particularly at the beginning, this movie hums with tight and talented filmmaking. 

RRR will long be one of those films where I'm grateful for my movie watching community pressing upon me to watch it. It's probably no surprise that I would have skipped it otherwise, especially as I've gotten busier, and the same could be said for the majority of my readers, I'm sure. But RRR is worth the investment and once you move past the "Gosh, this is kind of silly" and into accepting the Indian blockbuster for what it is, you're destined for one of the best times at the movies in 2022.

CONS

• Too long and could have used a trim. Not the biggest of deals now that it's on Netflix
• Beginning storytelling is a bit clunky
• Some special effects not up to par

PROS

• Authentically itself...it will likely overcome any predispositions you have of it because of its intoxicating energy
• Great cast, with epic strong leads of Ram Charan and N.T. Rama
• Jaw-dropping, goofy, brutally violent, and awesome action with stunning choreography and originality
• Great, epic story that has flavors of Shakespeare. The friendship between Bheem and Raju is a wonderful beating heart
• The music! Might be my favorite part of the whole thing as its infectiously enjoyable and we get an awesome dance off
• Stunning filmmaking on display. The editing, cinematography, and use of slow motion are all great and might be weird to say but this felt like the most 4K thing I've watched on Netflix, ever
• Fun, endearing, authentic, and different than what you're used to  

Rath's Review Score | 9.5/10