‘Jailer 2’ review: Rajinikanth’s mass moments hit, but did Nelson play it too safe?

If you walked in to watch ‘Jailer 2’ expecting loud cheers, stylish moments and a lot of fun, you will mostly walk out happy. If you expected something totally new, you may feel a little let down.

Tiger Muthuvel Pandian is back, and he is just as calm and dangerous as before. The retired jailer, is now living a quiet life with his family. On the surface, everything looks peaceful. But Pandian’s past is not done with him. A dangerous gang is on the move, and one of its key men Dileep (Suraj Venjaramoodu) is looking for the person behind Varman’s (Vinayakan) end. Instead of waiting for trouble to come to his door, Pandian decides to go after the gang himself. He wants to find out who is really running things behind the scenes.

To get close to them, he teams up with Moorthy (Namo Narayana), a local rowdy, in a rather funny and unexpected way. This is where the film really starts to pick up and the dark comedy kicks in.

Also Read: ‘Jailer 1’ recap: ‘Tiger’ Muthuvel Pandian’s story before Rajinikanth returns in ‘Jailer 2’ 

The plot follows the same template as the first part. If you remember how ‘Jailer’ was built, you will feel at home here. It is comfortable and familiar, but it does not surprise you much. Nelson clearly chose to stick to what worked, but the setup is fun enough to pull you in.

This is Rajinikanth’s show

Even a small look or a slow walk gets the whole theatre shouting. He carries the film on his shoulders, and he does it with such ease that you forget he is working. The comedy scenes where he plays off the other actors are a joy, and his mass moments are exactly what fans want to see.

Nelson Dilipkumar once again proves that he knows how to use a superstar without drowning the story in hero worship. His dark comedy is the biggest strength of the film. He lets characters say the most serious things in a casual way, and you end up laughing at moments where you probably should not. The first half is full of this, and the laughs come one after another. It is easily the most entertaining part of the film.

The second half is where the film loses some of its grip. The new villains are stylish and the screen presence is there, but the conflict between them and Pandian does not feel as strong as it should.

The emotional scenes try hard, yet they do not hit you the way the comedy does. The mass moments are still there to keep you hooked, and the climax brings a nice surprise that lifts the mood, but the ending feels more like a setup for what comes next than a satisfying finish.

Mollywood fans will keep spotting familiar faces, from big names to strong supporting actors. Mohanlal, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Vinayakan and Kottayam Nazeer are just a few of them, and many others also get good moments.

Although the film introduces a lot of new characters, and many of them are interesting on paper. But very few of them get enough time to grow. You meet them, you like their style, and then the story moves on. Many of them feel like they are there for a moment and not for the story.

The action sequences are a big highlight. They are well planned, stylish and full of energy. Each fight has its own mood. These are the scenes where the whole theatre erupts, and they are best enjoyed on a big screen with good sound.

Anirudh Ravichander: The real MVP

If there is one person who deserves a big round of applause, it is Anirudh. His background score lifts every mass moment to another level. A simple walk becomes a celebration because of his music. The songs are super nice and fit the film well.

Vijay Kartik Kannan’s cinematography also deserves a mention. The film looks rich and polished, and it makes the action and mass scenes look even better.

Verdict

‘Jailer 2’ is not a ‘perfect’ film. The story is very close to the first part, and many new characters do not get the space they deserve. But what it promises, it delivers: Rajinikanth’s screen presence, Nelson’s dark humour, great action and Anirudh’s thunderous music.

This is not a film to watch alone on a small screen. Take your friends, grab some popcorn and watch it in a theatre. The whistles, the cheers and the shared laughter are half the fun, and ‘Jailer 2’ is made for exactly that kind of experience.

Rating: 3.5/5

‘Jailer 2’ is written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Sun Pictures. Rajinikanth returns as Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, joined by Mohanlal, Shiva Rajkumar, Jackie Shroff, Vinayakan, Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, S. J. Suryah, Vidya Balan, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Mithun Chakraborty. Anirudh Ravichander composes the music, Vijay Kartik Kannan handles the cinematography. ‘Jailer 2’ released on October 15 and is out in Tamil, with Telugu and Hindi versions also available.