by Jeremy Ricketts-Hagan
In a year where Everything Everywhere All at Once excited audiences with its mix of wacky action and heartfelt drama, a film from Southern India captured attention with a similar brilliance.
RRR is by no means just a Telugu equivalent to the aforementioned Oscar favorite, but is an entirely new and unique experience in its own right. Set in a semi-fictitious colonial India, the plot begins as a seemingly run-of-the-mill, damsel-in-distress story. The colonial government is the villain and the kind hearted yet ridiculously strong Bheem set is our protagonist. However, in his journey, he unknowingly befriends a British colonial officer in Rama, which sets into motion a long game of cat and mouse in the vibrant backdrop of Delhi. The story expands with pulsating energy as the faith and determination of our protagonists are put to the test.
Where RRR separates itself is in its whimsy. It manages to capture a tight and relatively simple script and catapult it with characteristically high flying action sequences, captivating dance numbers, and heartfelt chemistry between our leads. RRR is at its best when it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It somehow strikes a great balance between the inconceivable and the intimate.
It’s continuously engaging, a barrage of dopamine, and definitely one of the better ways to kill 3 hours without even knowing it.
