Karthik Subbaraj's latest venture, Retro, had high hopes for the audience in the wake of the success of his previous film Jigarthanda Double X. However, the film starts off in a style that goes against expectations. The narrative in the first part, right up to the introduction of the protagonist, is crucial in laying the foundation for the story.
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However, as the story progresses, the importance of this structure, which is intriguing at first glance, becomes clear only later, and it fails to sustain the interest of the audience.
Retro's screenplay is the film's biggest weakness. The way in which the various characters and timelines are introduced fragment the narrative. Although the comic attempts involving a doctor character and the setting of an island are added to the story, they fail to be engaging. These elements do not fit in with the story and make the audience feel like a separate experience. After the first hour, as the interval approaches, the dramatic tension increases, but this does not hold up in the subsequent parts.
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Surya's performance, especially in a key scene during the intermission, is the highlight of the film. His smile and acting skills make this part stand out. However, the second half repeats the same shortcomings of the first half. While some scenes, such as the moonlight scenes on the beach, are notable, the directionlessness of the script affects the overall appeal of the film.
Retro's characters and subplots—love, the royalty of the island, the representation of hunger and squid—do not work together harmoniously. The moment when the hero becomes the savior of the islanders is the main turning point of the story, but it comes too late and affects the flow of the narrative. This imbalance between the different emotions and subplots reduces the emotional depth of the film.
The film introduces a continuous thread of jokes related to smiles, but its execution is weak. This makes it seem like a joke to the audience, reducing the seriousness of the film. Although Retro tries to present an ambitious idea, the muddled narrative and weak execution defeat this purpose.
Overall, Retro is a mere shadow of Karthik Subbaraj's genius. Despite Suriya's acting prowess and some visual beauty, the shortcomings of the script make the film a disappointing experience. The audience may find Retro a missed opportunity, where high expectations end in an average cinematic journey.