Jailer

Nelson gives us the Rajinikanth we treasure in this fresh form of the age-appropriate Tiger Muthu Pandian. But the film keeps us waiting for the real Nelson that we know to stand up—a reinvention of Rajinisms for the new age that occasionally shines through, yet the film doesn't fully embrace Nelson's edge and distinctive voice that makes his work memorable.

If you come to "Jailer" for anything but Rajinikinath, you will probably leave disappointed. Sometimes it's hard to tell if director Nelson Dilipkumar knows what he's doing, either with his star or this movie's volatile mix of tones and styles.

The slickly filmed Jailer has some sharp scenes of crackpot humour and a few quirky types that salvage an increasingly dull homage to Rajinikanth's screen persona. Who can take an avenging hero seriously when the threats are so feeble? A high-wattage star can bring only so much value to an indifferently written movie.

Jailer might be far from perfect, but with the towering presence of Rajinikanth standing tall along with Nelson's fortified writing, this is a commendable comeback for both the actor and filmmaker. It's this seasoned charisma, along with filmmaker Nelson's quirky touches, that make their latest collaboration Jailer an enjoyable entertainer.

Leave logic at home, go for the Rajinism. Director Nelson Dileepkumar and the Superstar offer a film that may have gaping plot holes, but you wouldn't really care. Jailer is an undiluted adrenaline rush for the diehard Rajini fan.

In many ways, Jailer brings Rajinikanth to the fore, yet again, just like how the film Vikram had done for Kamal Haasan. Unlike certain Rajini-centric action films, where the superstar carries the entire film on his shoulders and fights dozens of goons single-handedly, he is ably assisted by his 'old friends' and their aides in Jailer.