“Marco,” by Haneef Adeni, is a vehicle for Unni Mukundan in the title role. Being touted as one of the most violent Malayalam films, this vengeance saga with high-octane stunts and sleek cinematography fits perfectly in the action revenge genre. But just when it comes to being technically brilliant, the weak script holds it in its way.
A Bloody Revenge Saga
The film tells the story of Marco, out to seek revenge from those who killed his blind brother Victor. He gets into the violent revenge saga with Adattu George, his adoptive brother played by Siddique. The plot may be pretty straight, but to execute it, the movie depends a lot on blood and revenge, so the graph of violence keeps on rising.
Style Over Substance
From the opening shots of “Marco”, one gets the feeling that this movie is all about style. Great is the stunt choreography, and so is the cinematography. Chandru Selvaraj’s camera paints each scene in moody shades of black and grey, thereby heightening the tension. Ravi Basrur’s background score gelled well with the frames, especially during important fight scenes which looked almost poetic.
However, the movie falters in terms of narration. While the first half lays the plot decently, the latter half tumbles into a mess. Character arcs, especially how Marco’s engagement with his fiancée or even the backstory of Tony Issac is told, aren’t fully developed.
Characters That Could Have Been More
Unni Mukundan shines bright as Marco, filled with anger and grief. This is far away from his characters in “Malikapuram” and “Meppadiyan.” The way he hurls the emotions of Marco’s pain adds on an extra layer, which the script has failed to develop further.
All the other actors, including Jagadeesh, who plays the menacing Tony Issac, do their parts well. It is amazing to see an actor like Jagadeesh play a suave mafia leader who is ruthless when needed. Despite all these brilliant performances, with no relationship or character development worth taking seriously, it’s difficult to connect with the story.
For Action Enthusiasts Only
If you like action movies full of slick stunts and less dialogue, then “Marco” might be your cup of tea. But again, the excessive violence, including the graphic scenes of maiming and stabbing, aren’t for the squeamish. This movie demands you to give up on all your disbelief and take it as pure fiction.
A Missed Opportunity
While “Marco” succeeds in delivering style, its weak script prevents it from becoming a truly memorable action thriller. This excessive attachment to aesthetics and blood and iron-steel quotient is at the cost of its need for a lucid narrative and well-etched characters.
For all Unni Mukundan fans, adrenaline-oriented action can keep you entertained during “Marco”, but if you are more into telling a gripping story, then it does leave you wanting more or less.
Verdict: Watch “Marco” for its visual feast with hard-hitting action, but definitely not to savor an engaging storyline.
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