Mr Local movie review: This Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara starrer is a harmless entertainer
Mr Local movie review: This Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara has nothing to rave about except a few gags. The clash and the romance of the lead pair is tiring.
Film: Mr Local
Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Nayanthara, Radikaa Sarath Kumar, Sathish, Yogi Babu and Robo Shankar
Director: Rajesh M
Rating: 2/5
Director Rajesh M, who is best known for films such as SMS and Boss Engira Bhaskaran, has built his career over the years with senseless comedies which have worked with the masses. Therefore, it is absolutely a waste to set expectations when it comes to his films and it applies to his latest outing Mr Local, starring Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara, as well. This film has nothing to rave about except for some gags here and there and Sivakarthikeyan in his element, making most scenes work by his sheer screen presence.
The story opens in a prison in Paris where we’re introduced to Manohar (Sivakarthikeyan) but aren’t immediately told how he ended up there. Manohar plays a care-free youngster whose happy life revolves around his mother (Radhika) and sister. His easy-going life is disturbed when he picks up a fight with Keerthana (Nayanthara), a self-centered business tycoon who vows to crush Mano. What happens when Mano and Keerthana lock horns and everything that follows forms the crux of the story.
It’s for the umpteenth time we see Sivakarthikeyan play a middle-class youngster. There’s nothing wrong in making a hero play a middle-class character but it’s disappointing when you realize no effort has been taken to make his character interesting. You take the Sivakarthikeyan from Remo and put him in Mr Local and you can’t make out the difference. That’s how predictable his characters have become lately and that’s what makes Manohar, a very underwhelming character.
If not for the comedy, Mr Local has nothing going for it. Despite the predictable plot and the done-to-death romance, the jokes make the film work to some extent. The trio of Sathish, Yogi Babu and Robo Shankar really infuse some life with their comedy in an otherwise silly film. As long as the jokes work, Mr Local is mildly entertaining but it is unbearable when it focuses on the clash between Siva and Nayanthara and their romance.
It’s surprising that Nayanthara, who is known for picking role with utmost care, would pick a film where she has to be put in her place by the hero. It’s a disappointing role which has absolutely no scope to showcase her talent. Radikaa as the ever-doting mother is decent but it’s a role she has played so many times. Comedy is Siva’s forte and no other current mainstream hero can be as effective as him when it comes to entertaining audiences. Unfortunately, even he can’t do much to save a film that hardly delivers anything promising apart from a few jokes.
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