'A Flying Jatt' review: You'll need superhero levels of patience to watch this

Film: A Flying Jatt
Cast: Tiger Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, Amrita Singh, Kay Kay Menon and Nathan Jones
Director: Remo D’Souza

What it's about

Superhero films are tough to make, mainly because this is one genre that depends heavily on budgets. So if you go with your fists closed, Remo D’Souza’s A Flying Jatt is what you can expect in return. This one starts with an evil businessman Malhotra (of Malhotra ‘Multinationals’) trying to usurp a piece of land from an alcoholic woman (Amrita) and her cowardly son Aman (Tiger). When everything else fails, Malhotra sends the mighty Raka (Nathan) to finish the job. In the fight that follows, divine intervention coupled with medical marvel bless both Aman and Raka with special powers. While Aman uses his powers for the greater good by becoming the 'Flying Jatt', Raka goes on a destructive spree. How good eventually overcomes evil (from earth to space) is what forms the crux of the rest of the story.

What's good

A Flying Jatt isn’t like your usual superhero film— it begins with being a bit more real and that's endearing. The whole premise of a bumbling superhero who can fly but is scared of heights was a cracker of an idea. It’s these bits that make the first half of the film loaded with fun moments. The film takes about 20 minutes to hold your attention but after that it’s an exciting ride till intermission. The entire portion of the mother trying to prepare her son to be a superhero is hilarious. Aman’s antics are designed to attract kids and that formula is guaranteed to work. Tiger Shroff suits the title role perfectly and continues to have a strong screen presence. But this is his third film and the novelty of the acrobats and stunts is beginning to wear off. This film is a wake-up call for him to start focusing on his performances now.

What's not

It is unbelievable what director Remo does to the film in the second half— a mixed bag of Sikh teachings, lessons on global warming and a showcase of the tackiest production values and VFX seen in recent times. As a director, Remo fails to show any finesse; in fact, there is utmost contempt towards the audience with his blatant disregard towards anything aesthetic. Indian films have witnessed a different level of production values and VFX through films like Krrish 3, Robot and Baahubali. Remo dares to make a film in the same category and then dishes out THIS? Tushar Hiranandani continues to keep pace with his last two films, Great Grand Masti and Dishoom. From the illogical to the ridiculous, Tushar’s screenplay takes A Flying Jatt to a different level of incoherence. There’s a special Save-Mother-Earth message from Remo that springs itself on screen just before the film ends. The Tiger-Nathan fight in outer space is made of stuff that will make the creators of Star Wars cringe. The only thing that beats it is a reformed Kay Kay planting trees in the film’s end credits. Jacqueline Fernandez’s performance completes the triangle. It’s time someone told her that playing bubbly does not necessarily mean constantly giggling. And prancing like an awkward teenager isn’t acting.

What to do

You’ll have to be a superhero to bear this one. Strictly meant for Tiger Shroff fans.

Rating: **