Film: The Pet Detective
Starring: Sharaf U Dheen, Anupama Parameswaran, Vinay Forrt, Vijayaraghavan, Joemon Jyothir
Direction: Praneesh Vijayan
Plot: An aspiring detective, struggling to solve any cases, takes on what seems like a simple missing pet assignment. However, his investigation soon spirals into a complex web involving various criminal elements.
Runtime: 118 minutes
Imagine a kidnapped girl, a lost dog, stolen exotic fish, a notorious Mexican mafia boss, a few smaller-time criminals, a psychopath, a clumsy police officer, and, of course, a pet detective. You’d probably need a scorecard to keep up with all the intertwining subplots in The Pet Detective, the debut feature from director Praneesh Vijayan.
The filmmakers seem to acknowledge this dizzying array of events, even having a character periodically recap the narrative to prevent viewers from getting completely lost. Yet, there’s a certain charm in a cinematic world where things never get too serious, much like a classic comic book. This lighthearted, almost absurd tone is clearly what the creators were aiming for, evidenced by the staging, editing, and exaggerated performances. Still, for a movie built on humor, genuinely funny moments are surprisingly rare.
Our protagonist, Tony Jose Alula (played by Sharaf U Dheen), inherited his detective agency from his father. It’s also his desperate attempt to impress his girlfriend, Kaikeyi (Anupama Parameswaran), but so far, he’s had zero success with actual cases. A missing pet case arrives like a godsend, prompting him to embrace the role of a ‘pet detective,’ channeling his inner Ace Ventura. However, this seemingly innocuous investigation quickly plunges him into a much larger, multi-faceted criminal conspiracy. Adding to the chaos is a police officer (Vinay Forrt) who is also romantically interested in Kaikeyi and hot on Tony’s trail.
A Cascade of Parallel Events
The screenplay, co-written by Praneesh Vijayan and Jai Vishnu, borrows liberally from the playbook of classic comic capers, featuring numerous parallel storylines and a host of eccentric characters. Unfortunately, beyond a select few, many characters fail to make any lasting impression due to underdeveloped writing and shallow portrayals. Even a talented actor like Vinayakan is given a largely forgettable and ultimately pointless role. Sharaf U Dheen, Anupama, and Vijayaraghavan, however, manage to carve out some memorable moments. Much of the plot’s confusion, with its many threads, stems directly from this lack of clear character development.
Despite its flaws, the screenplay does offer some clever touches, like the recurring appearance of the detective’s old schoolmates, each with their own distinct backstory, woven into the plot at various crucial junctures. A definite highlight of the film is its chaotic climax, staged within a bustling theme park. Here, all the disparate characters converge for a grand, mixed-up encounter reminiscent of classic Priyadarshan comedies. While parts of this extended sequence might feel a bit like a promotional video for the theme park, particularly with scenes unfolding across multiple rides, it ultimately provides the necessary momentum to elevate the film into the realm of ‘average but watchable.’
Ultimately, ‘The Pet Detective’ achieves only moderate success in its ambitious attempt to transport audiences into a vibrant, comic-book-inspired universe.