You like John Wick?

Dev Patel certainly doesn’t shy away from openly acknowledging how much of a clear inspiration the quadrilogy of Keanu Reeves led action flicks were on this project of his. It’s a well-meaning copycat. Granted, one that is far talkier and heavily steeped in Indian/Hindu culture and politics. Those aspects do help give it an identity of its own to distinguish itself a bit, even if they come with the caveat of the film ultimately amounting to a noticeably more boring alternative for fairly lengthy stretches of its runtime. That being said, I also can’t help but appreciate how they provide Western audiences a glimpse into the sociopolitical issues faced in third world countries. Hopefully the movie will educate ignorant, self-absorbed Americans causing them to become “woke” to the fact that the things they’re constantly whining so loudly about online these days are and have been happening around the world for significantly longer and in a worse manner. Of course, the biggest main reason to watch this is for the action. It’s exceptionally well-choreographed and fast-paced grand Hollywood blockbuster stuff that’s unexpectedly bloodier and more brutally savage than its obvious influence. Plus, Patel in the lead role gives all of us scrawny, yet nonetheless almost paradoxically jacked types a welcomed dose of fantasy wish fulfillment. Especially since he’s almost never depicted as untouchable, realistically taking nearly the same amount of damage over the course of the story as he’s dishing out. Sharone Meir’s cinematography meanwhile is often quite unique and striking, only leaving me with mixed opinions with the occasional shots that unfavorably resemble those that can be found in your typical A24 affair or neon-drenched Nicolas Winding Refn work. Can’t complain about the soundtrack at all though. Any score that pairs a beatdown with a Bloodywood banger is alright in my book.  Altogether, the star, writer, producer, and first-time director’s debute effort behind the camera is a mix of style, top-notch brawls, and diversity in the form of representation for a perspective elsewhere on the planet very rarely, if ever before seen at such a wide-reaching scale that’s worth checking out despite a handful of shortcomings that keep it from ranking among the crème de la crème of the genre.