Desafios

No major spoilers - just a few thoughts on setup and structure.

I watched TEST on Netflix and found it underwhelming. "Meh" is probably the best way to put it.

I'm generally not a fan of films where money is the primary driver, unless the story is truly compelling. Movies like Ocean's 11 and Soodhu Kavvum didn't work for me. I prefer narratives like Blood Diamond or Catch Me If You Can, where character depth leads the way.

In TEST, cricket is central to the story, not just a side element. But even with that, the movie leans too heavily on the assumption that cricket alone will keep viewers engaged. This reminded me of The G. O. A. T., where cricket was thrown in randomly without adding value. In contrast, Lagaan succeeded because cricket supported a well-crafted story.

I watched the movie for Nayanthara, one of my favorites, but the plot didn't add up. A Boston MIT graduate running a canteen? That's how the film starts, logically unconvincing, not a spoiler. The pacing is slow, and the two parallel storylines take too long to intersect, which made me skip ahead at times.

Surprisingly, Siddharth, whom I usually find hard to tolerate, was actually okay in this role.

A few heartfelt conversations stood out, particularly where characters logically justify their actions. But those moments were too few to carry the film.

In the end, despite strong names like Madhavan and Nayanthara, TEST didn't quite pass for me.

Behold the cinematic travesty that is Test, a film so replete with squandered potential it could serve as a case study in narrative incompetence. The story, ostensibly brimming with "interesting elements," flounders under the weight of its own ineptitude, as these tantalising threads are left to languish, undeveloped, in a mire of creative apathy. The screenplay, a plodding dirge of ennui, drags its weary feet through a wasteland of mediocrity-occasionally punctuated by scenes that rise to the lofty heights of "okay" or, in rare bursts of adequacy, "good," only to collapse back into a torpor of unrelenting dullness. And then there are the moments of sheer absurdity, where scenes and dialogue descend into a puerile silliness that insults even the most forgiving intellect.

Madhavan, bless his thespian soul, delivers a performance of such brilliance it's almost tragic, shackled as he is to a character granted but a miserly handful of decent scenes-glimpses of excellence drowned in a sea of squandered opportunity. Siddarth acquits himself admirably, a beacon of competence in this dim constellation. Meera Jasmine, meanwhile, appears as an awkward anomaly, her visage oddly discordant with the frame, though her acting salvages some dignity from the wreckage. Nayanthara, poor soul, is a victim of time's cruel march, her appearance weathered beyond redemption by makeup so garishly inept it screams desperation-an attempt to defy age that only amplifies its victory. Her performance, alas, is a monotonous slog, as rote as a factory assembly line. Kaali Venkat, Vinay Varma, and the rest of the ensemble muster a collective shrug of adequacy, neither offending nor inspiring.

The production values-oh, how they gleam!-a polished veneer of locations, sets, and cinematography that dazzles the eye while the soul withers. The music, that auditory wallpaper, settles for a middling hum, neither elevating nor offending. The direction, helmed with all the flair of a bureaucratic functionary, is "okay"-a damning indictment if ever there was one.

In sum, Test is an exercise in cinematic futility, a film so unworthy of your time that to watch it is to willingly subject oneself to a masterclass in disappointment. Spare yourself the ordeal.

I was really looking forward to this amazing cast and hoping they would bring a fantastic performance and story... Honestly shocking! Why would they sign up for this utterly boring movie. There was no saving grace anywhere in those 2+ hrs.

The movie is sort of cricket oriented but there is no cricket in there. You see troubles of the female char, but some of those don't make much sense. The lead char is a person who is angry, frustrated and on the phone all the time.

Definitely not a movie that can be watched for fun, or good storyline or time pass. Subpar script and mediocre acting. Very disappointed!

Nothing new.

Predictable story.

Actors done great job. By the title its seems like more on cricket but it's focused more on personal problems of three main characters.

R.madhvan done great job.

Nayanthara looks pretty and equally delivered very good performance.

Siddharth done fair job. Nothing more to his part where he can change his expression.

If you are willing to watch this movie as a cricket fan than it's not for you.

Story was too poor.

Direction was not Upto the mark.

It was found difficult to understand the nature of character.

If you are fan of R.madhvan and Nayanthara than and only watch.

Test arrives with a promising cast and an intriguing premise centered around cricket, but unfortunately, it stumbles in execution. While the actors give solid performances, they're let down by a disjointed narrative and lackluster writing.

Sidharth's character, portraying a cricketer, feels like the weakest link. Rather than driving the story forward, his role feels bland and underwritten, lacking the emotional depth or arc needed to engage the audience. What's most frustrating is how the film teases cricket as a major theme, yet barely touches it until well into the second half, making the first hour feel like a slog.

The story itself is a confusing jumble, with scenes and subplots that don't seem to connect meaningfully. Dialogues are flat and uninspired, doing little to elevate the already muddled storytelling. Despite the potential, Test fails to capitalize on either its cast or its central theme, ending up as a movie that's more forgettable than impactful. Great cast, wasted potential. If you're a cricket fan, you'll be waiting too long for too little.