Crakk Movie Review | Filmfare.com
Crakk Movie Review | Filmfare.com
2.5/5
Siddhu (Vidyut Jammwal) from Mumbai loves doing stunts. He aspires to go to an extreme sports tournament which is held in Europe called Maidaan. His brother Nihal (Ankit Mohan), who attended the same tournament, got killed there but Siddhu doesn’t want to go there for revenge. In his mind, his brother, who was an extreme sports enthusiast, knew the risks associated with the tournament. It’s only when he learns the truth about his brother’s death that he totally cracks and starts hunting those who had wronged him.
If only the storyline of Crakk was this simple. No, they had to spoil it by throwing in some father-son conflict. So, apparently Dev (Arjun Rampal), who is the reigning champion and runs the tournament, has some daddy issues and wants to take over his father’s (Bijay Anand) empire. Then there’s also another very convoluted plot involving plutonium smuggling. Amy Jackson plays a Polish police inspector named Patricia, who doesn’t want any kind of terrorist activity in her country and suspects people behind Maidaan to be the sort of villains who wouldn’t bat an eye selling a dirty nuke to the highest bidder. So Patricia is looking for ways to trap him and involves our hero in it. Nora Fatehi plays an influencer named Alia who is smitten by Siddhu and helps him at a crucial time. Then, Siddhu Keeps seeing Nihal at the time of need and keeps seeking his dead brother’s advice.
The film suffers from slack writing. The plot doesn’t hold true at all. At times you’re wondering if the director has misplaced the script somewhere and is shooting ad hoc. The biggest question is why are all these extreme sports enthusiasts courting certain death? And, more importantly, why is the police not shutting down these death matches. They are blatantly being streamed alive and when the whole world knows about the location, why do the authorities not take any action. And why is there an audience about such stuff in the first place? Do the common people like seeing contestants killed on live streaming. Our society hasn’t lost its bearings by that much still.
The only decent thing about the film are the action scenes. Whether it’s the opening sequences, where Siddhu shows off his skills as a lad who loves to do stunts on local trains, the death race sequence of the bicycle stunts, the action choreography is world class. But there’s too much gap between the set pieces. For an action film, the film’s pace is quite slack. Its sound design and background score needs to be worked on as well.
Vidyut Jammwal is a good martial artist and has performed his stunts well, like always. Though he falters in the emotional scenes, which are not his forte. Arjun Rampal’s awesome physique rivals that of Vidyut Jammwal but the poorly-written role doesn’t leave him much space to work on. Ankit Mohan impresses as the elder brother in his brief role.
Watch the film if you’re a hardcore action junkie. If you like films having a modicum of story and plot, then Crakk is not for you.
Trailer : Crakk
Dhaval Roy, February 23, 2024, 12:38 PM IST
2.5/5
Story: An adrenaline junkie journeys from Mumbai’s streets to the extreme sports arena in Poland, fueled by a dream: win the championship and honour his late brother. His path is riddled with danger, a ruthless rival, and a secret threatening to turn the competition deadly.
Review: Opening with Siddharth ‘Siddhu’ Dixit (Vidyut Jammwal) performing electrifying but dangerous stunts on a moving local train in Mumbai, Crakk throws you into a world of high-octane action. As you hope no youngster is inspired to attempt such derring-do, the sequence sets you up for an edge-of-the-seat ride. Initially, director-writer Aditya Datt delivers that, as Krakow, Poland, becomes the backdrop for Siddhu’s journey, where he navigates the treacherous extreme sports arena, Maidaan, not just to win but also honour his brother Nihaal’s (Ankit Mohan) memory.
Despite the narrative shortcomings, Crakk shines in its action choreography (by Kerry Gregg) and cinematography (by Mark Hamilton). From gritty Mumbai streets to Mad Max-inspired landscapes, the visuals are captivating. The film also excels in showcasing daredevil moves, making you gasp and hold your breath. Daredevils evading swinging wrecking balls, escaping deadly hounds, etc., are captured well. However, the constant barrage of stunts can feel overwhelming, overshadowing the plot.
Vidyut Jammwal is in top shape and form as an action hero. He owns the pulse-pounding sequences and Mumbai slang, though he may not pass off as a lower-middle-class guy convincingly. Arjun Rampal brings menace to the villainous Dev and gets enough opportunity to show off his brawn and stunts. Nora Fatehi is passable in her limited role, though she has a few action sequences that she performs well. Ankit Mohan looks good and stands his might in the action department. Amy Jackson delivers a serviceable performance.
Crakk: Jeetagaa Toh Jiyegaa delivers on the thrilling action front, offering a refreshing glimpse into the world of extreme sports on the big screen. However, its reliance on predictable tropes and a somewhat underwhelming storyline might leave you wanting more.
