BOTTOM LINE
Dead Game!
RATING
1.75/5
Director: Nahas Hidhayath
Story, Screenplay: Nahas Hidhayath, Sajeer Baba
Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Kayadu Lohar, Mysskin, Antony Varghese, Samyuktha Viswanathan, Vinay Forrt, Kathir
Music Director: Jakes Bejoy
DOP: Jimshi Khalid
Editor: Chaman Chakko
Producer: Dulquer Salmaan, Jom Varghese
Presented By: Wayfarer Films
Production Company: Wayfarer Films
U.S. Distributor:
Related Links: Trailer
What Is the Film About?
Dulquer Salmaan’s character undergoes a hand transplant following an accident. The transplanted hand comes with a revenge story of its own, and how it changes his life forms the crux of the film.
Performances
Apart from a couple of blocks in which he handles the physical acting well, Dulquer Salmaan gets little scope to make an impact.
Kayadu Lohar does not have a single scene worth mentioning. The same goes for her poorly written role, which gives her absolutely no scope to perform.
Analysis
Spoiler Warning: This analysis may contain spoilers. If you have not watched the movie yet, we recommend that you stop reading here.
I’m Game opens with an intriguing scene that hints at the film’s central concept involving a hand. This is followed by a typical heroic entry for Dulquer Salmaan. A song, his gambling addiction, financial losses, and scenes with his parents take up much of the early portion.
For most of the first half, the film follows familiar textbook tropes. Whether it is the cricket-betting portions or the accident that leads to Dulquer receiving a hand transplant, almost everything unfolds predictably.
Even after the transplant, the film does not immediately become fresh or intriguing. The nine-month recovery period is largely used to establish a love track, fit in a duet, and follow it up with a rather silly rejection from the heroine. The concept remains promising, but what we see on screen until then is barely passable.
The film finally picks up around 20 minutes before the interval. Once the transplanted hand begins to trouble Dulquer and the villain track is introduced, the narrative becomes more engaging and ends with a decent interval block.
Overall, it is a mostly passable first half that picks up around 20 minutes before the interval and ends with a decent interval block.
Sadly, the entire second half is one dead game. Whatever little the film has to offer is confined to the first half, even if it comes only in bits and pieces. After the interval, there is hardly anything worth mentioning.
A major portion of the second half revolves around the cricketer whose hand is later transplanted to Dulquer. Dulquer himself stays off-screen for a considerable amount of time. Unfortunately, the entire cricketer track is painfully flat and evokes neither emotion nor excitement. His rise as a cricketer and the trouble created by the villain fail to make any impact.
By the end, there are no surprises. Despite a title like I’m Game and a promising central idea, the film turns into an utterly routine revenge drama. The entire second half feels painfully outdated and becomes difficult to sit through.
Overall, it is a losing game for everyone involved, especially the audience that paid to watch it.
Performances by Other Actors
I’m Game features several well-known actors in its supporting cast, including Jayasudha, Mysskin, Antony Varghese, Samyuktha Viswanathan, and Kathir. However, none of them is given a well-written role that makes their presence memorable.
Music and Other Departments?
Jakes Bejoy’s music is far from satisfactory, with nothing memorable to mention. Jimshi Khalid’s cinematography is decent, but the film offers nothing visually exciting. Chaman Chakko’s editing could have been much sharper, especially in the second half.
Highlights?
20-minute stretch leading up to the interval
Drawbacks?
Outright poor second half
Complete waste of a unique concept
Half-baked characters, including the heroine
Painfully long and dull flashback
Outdated treatment
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
I’m Game Telugu Movie Reviewed by Kalyan
