Jackpot Tamil Movie

Feature Film | 2019 | U | Action, Drama | 2h 22min
Critics:
Jackpot, a nonsensical fantasy, had great ideas but failed in its execution thanks to a terrible screenplay that was disengaged and erratic.
Aug 4, 2019 By Baranidharan Sivasankaran

Where To Watch:
Streaming:
   Amazon Prime


'Jackpot,' directed by Kalyaan (whose earlier films were 'Kulebagaavali' and 'Kaathadi') was a movie that had worthy little strands of ideas that could potentially be made as separate feature films. Unfortunately, those ideas were left without proper nurturing. As a result, we ended up watching a movie that gave us a series of momentary giggles in a screenplay that was void of sensibilities.


The movie begins in the year 1918 with the discovery of a vessel that has magical powers to provide unlimited stuff of whatever that is placed inside it. In other words, it is the 'Akshaya Patra' or 'Jackpot'! Along the timeline, it gets lost and changes hands.


When the leading ladies Akshaya (Jyothika) and Masha (Revathi) who are small-time con-women learn about its existence, they want to take the plunge and go for it. Of course, it is guarded by the ignorant villain 'Manasthan' (Anandaraj) and his naive bull, Pinky!


So, the storyline would have given a fair idea of what sort of whack that was in store. The fantasy element in the movie was abused and brought in little laughs. The slapsticks by Jyothika and Revathi misfired severely and made the proceedings go haywire. The screenplay was so erratic that one couldn't come to terms on what was happening at a particular point.


E.g., a scene involves Masha and Akshaya ending up in prison for messing up with a cop. It's a random scene that shows them with a regular costume and saving an older woman (Sachu) from an evil jail warden. Of course, it is a scene where they learn about the 'Jackpot' and decide to go for the same. But, what is the need for such a shabby and random staging of that scene? Are they competing with the likes of 'Tamizh Padam' that blatantly markets itself as a spoof film?


The film consistently has scenes that start on a seemingly positive note but ends up with the farce that the audience rarely applauds. E.g., the jail scene was too far a stretch and the audience of today who are treated with much more realistic wit, shy away from it. Expecting the viewers to take the bait every time with a hollow subtext is unrelenting.


The songs with a 'you go girl' attitude to lure the women, and family audiences hardly worked as it hampered the pace and brought in nothing but boredom! Also, Jyothika and Revathi struggled with their sense of timing, and the scenes turned out to be anything but humorous.


The only saving grace was Anandraj in a dual role as 'Manasthan' and as a lady cop who was able to hold his act. Yogi Babu was there just for the formality, though his entry into the fray was one of those exciting strands of an idea.


Producer Suriya has tried to make a safe bet with 'Jackpot' by making a nonsensical masala with some star power. No doubt, it was nonsensical, but the question that begs is whether it was engaging? Of course, it's a big 'NO.' Watch it on Amazon Prime, maybe in a few weeks from now!

Baranidharan Sivasankaran

   

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