Film: The Pet Detective
Starring: Sharaf U Dheen, Anupama Parameswaran, Vinay Forrt, Vijayaraghavan, Joemon Jyothir
Direction: Praneesh Vijayan
Plot: An unsuccessful detective takes on the case of a missing pet, only to find himself entangled in a much larger, multi-layered conspiracy.
Runtime: 118 minutes
Imagine a movie packed with a kidnapped girl, a missing dog, stolen exotic fish, a menacing Mexican mafia boss (and a few less threatening ones), a psychopath, a hilariously inept policeman, and of course, a pet detective. This is the chaotic checklist you’ll need to navigate the numerous subplots crammed into The Pet Detective, the debut film from Praneesh Vijayan.
The filmmakers seem to acknowledge the potential for confusion, even having a character periodically recap the events to prevent viewers from getting lost. But sometimes, it’s a pure delight to lose yourself in a world that never takes itself too seriously, much like a good comic book. This lighthearted, almost farcical tone is clearly what the creators were aiming for, a place where even a Mafia don can become a running gag. The film’s staging, editing, and often over-the-top performances all strive to capture this frantic, comic energy. Despite these efforts, only a handful of the jokes truly land.
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), though he’s yet to solve a single significant case. A missing pet case appears as a potential breakthrough, prompting him to reinvent himself as a ‘pet detective,’ a la Ace Ventura. However, his pursuit of this seemingly simple case quickly plunges him into a complex web involving multiple players. Adding to the chaos is a policeman (Vinay Forrt), who also happens to be vying for Kaikeyi’s affection, trailing Tony’s every move.
A Tangled Web of Parallel Events
The screenplay, co-written by director Praneesh Vijayan and Jai Vishnu, borrows heavily from the conventions of comic capers, featuring numerous parallel storylines and an assortment of eccentric characters. Unfortunately, many of these characters fail to leave a lasting impression due to underdeveloped writing and shallow characterization. Even a seasoned and powerful actor like Vinayakan is given a largely forgettable and somewhat pointless role. Sharaf U Dheen, Anupama, and Vijayaraghavan, however, manage to carve out some impact with their performances. Much of the plot’s confusion, with its many intertwining threads, stems directly from this lack of clear character development.
Despite its flaws, the screenplay offers some intriguing elements, like the clever way the detective’s old schoolmates are re-introduced at various points, each with their own unique backstory. Without a doubt, one of the film’s standout moments is the climactic showdown, ingeniously set in a theme park. Here, all the disparate characters converge for a glorious mix-up that fondly recalls classic Priyadarshan comedies. While parts of this extended sequence might make you wonder if it doubles as an advertisement for the theme park, showcasing multiple rides, it ultimately provides the film with a much-needed final boost, elevating it to the realm of an ‘average’ film.
Ultimately, ‘The Pet Detective’ only moderately succeeds in its ambitious goal of transporting audiences into a vibrant comic book universe.