Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse review: This investigative thriller is too simple a take from Mammootty-Gautham Menon combo

Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse movie review: Mammootty’s film is a breezy watch, but it’s also just as easily forgettable because neither the protagonist nor the investigation is captivating enough.

Mammootty in the poster of Dominic and the Ladies' Purse

Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse story: Former police officer Dominic, who runs his own detective agency, is tasked with finding the owner of a purse by his landlady. What starts out as a ‘simple case’ soon leads him to probe the whereabouts of two missing people.

Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse review: Malayalam audiences have a reputation for being critical of needlessly half-baked Malayalam accents of actors and even singers. This is because improper enunciation often sticks out like a sore thumb, affecting the enjoyability of a story or a song. In Gautham Vasudev Menon’s debut Malayalam directorial too, its dramatic tone and occasionally childish narrative, especially when Gokul Suresh’s character, gazes wide-eyed every time Dominic (Mammootty) deciphers something, disrupt the narrative, making it feel less like a seamless experience. This contrast between a serious case and the naive moments makes the film feel uneven at times.

The film, scripted by Gautham along with Dr Neeraj Rajan and Dr Sooraj Rajan, revolves around an investigation carried out by a former cop-turned-detective, Dominic. The case – finding the owner of a purse – is rather too simple for someone of his skills. However, as his probe progresses, it leads him to something even bigger and sinister.

Also read: Gautham Vasudev Menon on Mammootty's Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse: 'I hope to make 3 more Dominic films if this works' 

The makers haven’t tried to experiment too much with the conventional investigative template, but what makes Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse interesting enough is its lead character, who has his own set of quirks and modus operandi. But don’t expect anything out of the ordinary either, because Dominic here isn’t the usual Sherlock Holmes type; although he uses his observation skills, he also feels like your endearing next-door neighbor.

On the surface, this investigative thriller is a breezy watch, but it’s also easily forgettable because neither the protagonist nor the investigation is captivating enough to make the audience feel invested throughout its 2-hour 32-minute runtime. This is why the final stretch of the film, which unravels the mystery, serves up as the saving grace in this otherwise too-simple take on the story. The ending too seems a bit problematic, reinforcing existing stereotypes.

Though the director had earlier stated that he wrote the dialogues in Tamil first and then got to translate it into Malayalam, there are certain characters in the film including those played by Wafa Khatheeja and Viji Venkatesh – who speak Malayalam with a heavy, distracting accent. However, the performance and accent of Sushmitha Bhat, who plays dancer Nanditha, are justified and the actress pulls off an impressive debut.

Mammootty as Dominic, tones down the heroics as demanded by the script, and is a joy to watch for most parts. He is at ease even in the final stretch of the film, when the spotlight shifts to another character. Gokul Suresh, Vineeth, and Vijay Babu have limited roles – while the former is more of a cheerleader than a Watson to Sherlock, the latter two are turning points in the puzzle.

The film’s cinematography by Vishnu Dev aids the ‘private-eye’ narrative. There are scenes where the frames are static, like when the characters are monitored even without their knowledge – letting the actors own the scene through their performance. The music by Darbuk Siva is rather underwhelming, except for the final 15 minutes where it reaches a satisfying crescendo.

Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse verdict: Mammootty and Gautham Vasudev Menon’s investigative thriller has its moments, but it does feel like a missed opportunity, considering the talents involved and the potential that such a subject had.

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