BOTTOM LINE
Swag Max, Substance Nil
RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 20m
Good Bad Ugly is about AK, a powerful don who gives up his criminal life for his family and promises his son that when he turns 18, he will make him proud. However, when his son gets into serious trouble, AK returns to his life as a don to save him and reunite his family. This is the basic premise of the story.
Performances
Ajith plays the role of Don, Red Dragon AK, and appears in almost every scene of the film. He does well, impressing his fans with his style and swag. For others, it comes across as decent. Emotionally, there’s not much depth to his role -it’s all about style and swagger. His styling, particularly the costumes, suits him well, and he delivers his part effectively.
Trisha plays the female lead and AK’s wife in the film. Her role and styling are a mixed bag. Surprisingly, she looks a bit aged in this film. In terms of screen presence and the length of her role, it’s forgettable. There are a few scenes here and there, but nothing memorable for her fans. Overall, it’s a forgettable appearance for her in this film.
Good Bad Ugly is directed by Adhik Ravichandran who previously helmed a retro-styled film that received mixed responses. This time he teams up with a star hero but unfortunately the script is predictable and straightforward offering no surprises throughout.
The director heavily relies on slow-motion shots and hero elevation sequences to engage and entertain the audience. However what he delivers is a routine done-to-death star vehicle.
While Adhik Ravichandran doesn’t fail to present Ajith in a grand manner that’s all the film focuses on. And although he succeeds in elevating the hero the film quickly loses impact due to a lack of substance.
The constant hype around AK’s character whether it’s other gangs going up against him or foreign gangs fearing him feels repetitive and hollow. It’s all slow-motion shots stylish walks and flashy costumes but beneath it all there’s nothing meaningful.
Despite the potential for emotional depth such as the kid’s troubles the prison angle and the mother’s role these elements are underutilized and fail to leave any lasting impact.
As has been proven numerous times before elevation works only when backed by genuine emotion. But here the director completely overlooks the emotional core of the story. Instead he focuses on exaggerated build-ups that at times feel like a watered-down imitation of Prashanth Neel’s style which may appeal only to die-hard Ajith fans. For neutral audiences the film might come across as shallow and even silly at times.
When Ajith finally fulfills his big promise to his son toward the end and the emotional moment arrives with his son hugging him and saying he’s proud there’s no emotional punch. This highlights the film’s weak writing and execution.
Overall Good Bad Ugly is a passable film at best catering mainly to senior hero Ajith fans but offering little in terms of story substance or cinematic highs for others.
Good Bad Ugly is filled with a truckload of well-known and talented supporting cast members. However other than the lead hero Ajith none of them leave a significant impact on the film. It’s not that they haven’t performed or done their job but apart from one or two characters most of them fade into the background. Telugu actor Sunil who appears in the first half and then disappears barely makes any impact. Other actors like Rahul Dev KGF Avinash Yogi Babu and Prasanna as well as senior actors like Prabhu and Simran who brings back some old memories simply do their part without leaving a lasting impression. Arjun Das has a key role and performs well adding some value to the film.
The music composed by G V Prakash may not have added much to the film in terms of songs but the quirky background score which is essential for the film especially during the slow-mo shots and retro theme was handled well. He delivered what was required. The camera work by Abinandhan Ramanujam is solid and maintains a consistent visual vibe throughout the film and the credit goes to him for that. Editing by Vijay Velukutty is alright. The production values by Mythri Movie Makers are excellent and the film looks visually grand and feels like a tier 1 big star vehicle.
Few elevation blocks
Retro vibes and quirky feel
Effective background score
Production values
Drawbacks?
Excessive focus on style, with little real substance
Overemphasis on hero elevations
Almost no story, just repeated elevations
Weak family sentiment angle
Did I Enjoy It?
Parts of it, but not entirely.
Will You Recommend It?
Die-hard Aith fans might enjoy it—others, not so much.
Good Bad Ugly Movie Review by M9
Final Report:
Good Bad Ugly tries for Prashanth Neel-style high-elevation moments in a senior star vehicle but ends up being a shallow version with more noise than substance. It turns out to be a film for ‘only’ Ajith fans. Stay tuned for the detailed review of Good Bad Ugly.
First Half Report:
Good Bad Ugly’s first half is all about catering to Ajith fans with over-the-top, retro elements with almost no story and a routine star-hero setup. Trisha’s role is limited, with barely any presence beyond a few scenes. So far, it’s a passable affair.
— Good, Bad, Ugly show started with the powerful Don AK (Ajith) surrendering himself in jail, followed by an action sequence. Stay tuned for the first half report.
After the recent disappointment Vidaamuyarchi, Ajith is back with the entertainer Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran. Stay tuned for the Good Bad Ugly movie review and U.S. premiere report.
Cast: Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Usha Uthup, Rahul Dev, Kingsley, Roadies Raghu, Pradeep Kabra, Harry Josh, KGF Avinash, Yogi Babu, Prasanna, Prabhu, Priya Prakash, Simran, Tinnu Anand, Sayaji Shinde, Jackie Shroff, Sunil, Arjun Das.
Writer and Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Producers : NAVEEN YERNENI – Y RAVI SHANKAR
CEO : Cherry
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Music : GV Prakash Kumar
DOP : Abinandhan Ramanujam
Editor : Vijay Velukutty
Stunts : Supreme Sundar, Kaloian Vodenicharov
U.S. Distributor: Prathyangira Cinemas
Good Bad Ugly Movie Review by M9
The 30th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 took place between Mumbai Indians and…
A new trend is clearly emerging in Telugu cinema, with more actors stepping into direction…
