Suriya shines, but a scattered second half leaves Retro half-fulfilled.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
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Critic consensus
Critical reception for Retro is mixed-to-moderate, with most reviewers landing around the 60/100 mark. Suriya's performance and the film's visual style and soundtrack draw consistent praise, with several critics also noting a strong first half. The most common criticism is a weakening second half, with reviewers pointing to an unfocused screenplay, contrived political subtext, and a loss of momentum in the post-interval portions.
1 not-rated review isn't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Film review
Director Karthik Subbaraj has been someone who makes films that are a blend of genres, stylish and use music as a narrative tool. His latest film, Retro, starring Suriya, follows this same pattern and presents the Kollywood star in an action avatar with a streak of romanticism and sentiments.
Film review
Retro is an entertaining star vehicle that is made to serve a higher purpose, even if it goes around in circles. While the initial romance scenes between Paari and Rukmini work really well, the portions in Andaman don't have the same impact. The film oscillates between entertaining and exhausting, and whether Retro wins your fancy depends on whether you are convinced by Karthik's audacious narrative choices.
Film review ·
Karthik Subbaraj makes an indulgent film where style, action and sentiment matter, but then the familiarity strikes.
Film review ·
The film begins to falter in the post-interval portions where the political subtext comes off looking contrived.
Film review ·
If only had the writing been more focused in the latter portions, Retro could have escaped the curse of the second half, and turned into something truly memorable.
Film review ·
Retro is a wild ride through love, loss, and lead bullets. If you’re in the mood for an emotional gangster drama with slick visuals, a killer soundtrack, and Suriya in top form, Retro is worth the ticket. It’s not just a movie, it’s a mood.
Film review ·
Suriya is back, and he's better than ever in Retro, a gripping action drama directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Packed with emotion, action, and a unique visual style, the film is already winning praise from both fans and critics.
Film review ·
...an overstuffed love story with a gangster backdrop. While the film begins on a spectacular note, it fizzles as it progresses.
Film review ·
Suriya stuns while Pooja Hegde puts out her career-best. In an experimental approach, Karthik Subbaraj subtly conveys multiple things in the mainstream format through his characters.
Credits
SuriyaPaarivel Kannan / Jada Muni
Pooja HegdeRukmani
Joju GeorgeThilagan
Jayaram'Chaplin' Lolly
Vidhu'King' Michael Mirasu
NassarRajavel Mirasu
Prakash RajDharmendran
Sujith SankarFreddie Milton
Avinash RaghudevanPrabhu
KarunakaranAnthony
GajarajLord Milton
TamizhPasupathi
SwasikaSandhya
Kaarthekeyen SHakkimTamil films like Retro
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