BOTTOM LINE
Over the Top but Faisa Vasool
OUR RATING
2.75/5
CENSOR
• U •
What Is the Film About?
Venky (Venkatesh) and Varun Yadav (Varun Tej) are ordinary guys with ordinary lives. Their struggle is all about money. One day they hear about a wealthy industrialist in Vijayanagaram who is looking for his heir. What happens when Venky, Varun and the gang arrive at his doorsteps pretending to be his heir is the movie’s basic plot.
Performances
Venkatesh is the lifeline of F3, much like he was with F2. He literally eats anyone on-screen with him. Anil Ravipudi also knows the same, and he puts excellent use of the comedy timing of the star. The narrative is built involving many actors, but it is Venkatesh who stands out with the impeccable timing.
Coming to Varun Tej, he seems to be well aware of the monster at the other end and never tries to overdo anything. He sticks to his characters, and that works well in standing alone. His character comes with a particular trait which requires a specific body language. Varun does well with it, but its ultimate success is more about the writing and scenes than his ‘act’ itself.
Analysis
The hit-machine Anil Ravipudi is back with the new entertainer F3. It is a spiritual sequel to the much-loved F2. The actors are the same as the original, but it is a new story and not a continuation of the previous part.
The stories have never been a strong pursuit of Anil Ravipudi, barring his debut (Pataas). It is always the screenplay and entertainment which hold the narrative together. He terms them as ‘Items’, and it’s the case with F3. The range to which one likes (or dislikes) his films depends on how these ‘items’ work out.
There is always a theme running in Anil Ravipudi movies despite wafter thin stories. It is the string or the foundation on which the blocks are set. If it was the marriage in F2, it is money in F3. The relatability factor remains the same. But, there is a visible difference between the two when it comes to the narrative.
In F2, there was a clear cut difference between the two halves. The first one was unanimously appreciated, whereas the second half didn’t click at the same level. In F3, that is not the case, as there are blocks throughout that work, and at the same time, some fall flat.
Venkatesh’s night blindness (rechikati) track is a hoot. The first few times connect instantly and are a laugh ride. However, the same is not true with the ‘Stuttering’ track of Varun Tej. The comedy varies from good to passable to ho-hum. The Rajendra Prasad sub-plot is another example of a mixed bag. The bottom line here is the unevenness.
Some blocks provide fun throughout, but at the same time, they are followed by passable content. The first half is more even in this regard, with the actual story kicking in at the interval point. It is used to further the comedy.
The second half continues the same momentum but gets progressively bloated and sillier. The pre-climax and climax blocks go way overboard and are silly even to those who have already given in to the silliness. What works, again, are some genuinely funny moments in between and the end on a positive note.
Overall, F3 is a over the top entertainer that delivers what it promises – mindless entertainment. Setting the right expectations is the key here, along with the tolerance levels for mindlessness. Give it a try if you don’t mind the logiclessness.
Performances by Others Actors
After the main male leads, Tamannaah gets a decent role. She gets a part to show her skills glamorously and provide some fun. Mehreen is as irritating as she was in F2. Luckily, her part gets sidelined in the second half.
F3 is filled with many known character artists. Some were seen in F2, whereas a few new additions like Sunil. The latter is a welcome addition as he gets a hilarious role. Rajendra Prasad plays an honest police officer with a nativity to perfection in his inimitable style. Murali Sharma is adequate as the industrialist, and the women’s gang shine as they did previously. Vennela Kishore has a better role here, and he impresses. Raghu Babu and others are alright and hold their own whenever they get the chance.
Music and Other Departments?
At best, Devi Sri Prasad’s music is passable, but they have been placed and shot well in the narrative. The background score is par for the course. Sai Sri Ram’s cinematography is loud yet colourful. Tammiraju’s editing is neat and deserves credit for keeping the narrative tight with many characters. It could have been easily all over the place. The writing is good, mostly.
Highlights?
Venkatesh
Entertainment
Casting
Drawbacks?
Wafer-Thin Story
Overboard Sequences
Uneven Narrative
Overboard Sequences (Second Half)
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Little Reservations
F3 Telugu Movie Review by M9News
Final Report:
F3 is an over the top entertainer that goes way overboard. Still, the comedy works, and there is enough entertainment to be engaged, making it a decent one-time watch. It’s all about setting the ‘expectations’ right.
— The Item Song “Life Ante Itta Vundaala” featuring Pooja Hegde is placed perfectly after a lengthy block and shot with simple but cute moments along with F3 stars.
— F3 second half started. All key cast now has one common goal and shifted to Murali Sharma’s house.
First Half Report:
F3 is an over the top entertainer similar to F2 with a flimsy storyline. A few comedy blocks work very well whereas others are ordinary depending on the expectations.
Venkatesh, as usual, steals the show with his timing eats alive everyone in the frame with him.
— F3 begins in Vizianagaram. Venky lends money to Tamanna’s family. He is in desperate need for money. On the other hand, Varun Yadav (Varun Tej) too wants to earn big money.
— F3 started. Streaming partner- SonyLIV.
F3 Review, U.S. Premier updates will begin shortly. Stay tuned.
The sequel to the Mega successful family entertainer F2 starring Victory Venkatesh and Mega Prince Varun Tej, F3, is finally here. It has been a long wait, but Anil Ravipudi and producer Dil Raju have ensured it’s worth the wait.
Once upon a time, there was a sentiment in the industry that sequels don’t work. We have a few which actually didn’t. Well, that’s a thing of the past, and post-Baahubali movies and the phenomenal success of KGF and its sequel, KGF 2, there is a renewed interest in ‘sequels’ in Telugu cinema.
F3 couldn’t have therefore come at the right time. Not only are sequels in vogue, but also the audience is missing a fun family entertainer. The original worked for the same reason, and the sequel also has a similar situation.
The audience is starved for entertainment, and F3 comes at the right time. Venkatesh, Varun Tej, and the team delivered the laughs in the first instalment and emerged as the winner of the Sankranthi season. They can do the same for the summer season (considering ROI).
Anil Ravipudi is on a high with back to back success. A great outing with F3 could further cement his place as a top director in the industry. Venkatesh is coming after back to back OTT releases, and Varun Tej, after the epic disaster, Ghani couldn’t ask for a better outing. A box office hit will put them back on the map. Producer Dil Raju will be on a roll here as he has a lot coming up.
As always, M9News will bring you a ‘First-On-Net’ F3 movie review, genuinely and honestly. Watch this space for our updates.
