Film Reviews | Tezz & The Avengers
However unkind it might seem, there are often hints that a film is not going to be worth the ticket money. In the case of the Priyadarshan-directed Tezz, those clues were the inclusion of Zayed Khan in the cast, the forced controversy around a Mallika Sherawat item number days before the film’s release and, finally, the lacklustre trailer. And you wonder—what is Mohanlal doing in this film?
A mess: Tezz lacks logic and the acting is generally unimpressive.
Super-cop Arjun Khanna (Anil Kapoor) is called in to lead the investigation, while railway traffic controller Sanjay Raina (played by Boman Irani) in London tries to keep the train on track and the passengers (including his own daughter) safe. It doesn’t augur well for the situation that in a predominantly British control room, he is mostly speaking Hindi!
Some niftily cut action sequences and Sandeep Chowta’s background music keep the film ticking over, but it does not counteract the absolute lack of logic, the bizarre premise of defending illegal immigration and the depiction of a completely inept British police force (which should take umbrage).
The boat, raft, bike, car, jet ski and parkour chases are distractions from the catalogue of appalling acting starting with two expression Devgn, Kapoor with a Slumdog Millionaire hangover, wooden Khan and parodied Mohanlal. Kangna Ranaut (as Rana’s wife) and Reddy are expectedly passable in one-dimensional roles.
Like most films featuring sundry foreign actors, Tezz also showcases a range of hammy performers with accents that vary from British to American.
A mash-up of Speed, Unstoppable, The Taking of Pelham 123, and several other Hollywood thrillers, Tezz is a mess. The tension never builds up, nor do you feel sympathy for any character. In other words, it lives up to expectations and is not worth the time or expense.
The only paisa vasool (because it’s so unintentionally funny) moment comes when Mohanlal, who plays narcotics branch officer Shivan Menon, beseeches the passengers aboard the targeted train to maintain calm. At that moment, it becomes even more inexplicable why an actor of his standing agreed to be a part of this unoriginal and derivative ensemble film.
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The Avengers
Marvel men Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created The Avengers in 1963. The original team of “Earth’s mightiest heroes” comprised Ant-Man, Wasp, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk. With time the team became more fluid, with Captain America entering the fold. Come 2012 and director Joss Whedon’s The Avengers comprises Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).
Supporting them are SHIELD agents Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).
Razzle-dazzle: A still from The Avengers.
The composition of the team that unites to face unreasonably evil and strong enemies may change, but their famous cry remains “Avengers, assemble”.
The plot of The Avengers is rather convoluted, but it hardly matters. All one needs to know is that Norse god Loki, half brother of Thor, has come to earth to assert his dominance and to seek revenge from Thor. The Avengers must assemble to protect earth from his violent megalomania.
Tom Hiddleston is appropriately creepy and menacing as the power-hungry and slighted Loki. As far as superhero films go, this one is fairly formulaic too.You know which side will win and that a sequel is guaranteed. Purists and fans of The Avengers might baulk at the selection of heroes, especially the poorly fleshed out Black Widow and Hawkeye; non-fans might question the relevance of Captain America, who appears to have no real superpower, just great muscle power.
Iron Man (or Downey Jr) is still glib, arrogant and the most charming, while Ruffalo humanizes Bruce Banner so that you root for the enraged big green monster he is painstakingly keeping tamed within. He owns Banner/Hulk in a way neither Eric Bana nor Edward Norton before him succeeded in doing. He is also given the best moment of the film—when challenged to get enraged and transform, he simply says, “I am always angry.”
The climax fight is eked out and the superheroes hardly display awesome powers as New York is devastated by Loki’s army. Yet who can resist Marvel heroes— four of whom already have their own movies? As long as they bash up the bad guys and win!
The Avengers is patiencetesting at close to 150 minutes, but the witty one-liners, brief engagement with such well-loved superheroes and the razzle-dazzle of special effects keep you entertained.
Tezz and The Avengers released in theatres on Friday.
