Yash is back on the big screen with Toxic, a star-studded gangster film featuring Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Nayanthara and more.
The movie arrived with plenty of hype, but despite strong performances and impressive production, Toxic ultimately falls short where it matters most: the story.
In fact, the film struggled to hold my attention enough to stay until the end, with the theater exit coming about an hour before the movie was over.
Toxic is packed with action, fighting, violence and gore, but beneath all of that, its story feels surprisingly thin. There is a basic plot, but much of the movie feels like situations are being created simply to lead the characters into another fight.
Toxic Needed More Story
One of the more interesting elements of the film is the backstory given to Yash and Nayanthara’s characters, particularly glimpses into their childhood and the motivations behind some of their actions.
Unfortunately, there simply isn't enough of it.
Those moments provide some context and an opportunity to connect with the characters, but the film needed to go deeper. As a result, it is difficult to become emotionally invested in most of the people at the center of the story.
Kiara Advani's character comes the closest to creating that emotional connection, thanks in large part to her performance.
Kiara Advani Stands Out in a Strong Cast
While the story may be the biggest weakness of Toxic, the performances certainly aren't.
Advani gives one of the film's standout performances, bringing plenty of emotion to the material she is given.
Yash, Huma Qureshi and Nayanthara also deliver strong performances. Across the board, the acting is one of the movie's strengths.
The same can be said for the production itself.
The cinematography looks great, while the costumes and sets help make Toxic feel like a polished, well-made film. There is clearly a lot of work behind what audiences see on screen.
The problem is that all of those elements are working around a screenplay that doesn't feel strong enough.
For a movie with this much scale and effort behind it, the story needed to provide a stronger foundation. Instead, the lack of a compelling screenplay makes it difficult for the film's impressive production and performances to reach their full potential.
That doesn't necessarily mean Toxic won't work for everyone. Viewers who enjoy action-heavy movies filled with fighting and gore may have a very different experience and could thoroughly enjoy what the film delivers.
But for audiences looking for a gangster film with a story and characters they can become emotionally invested in, Toxic may be a disappointing watch.
