Adios Amigo movie review: Good intentions in this Asif Ali-starrer are marred by its over-stretched narrative

2.5/5

Adios Amigo story: Priyan, a middle-aged man who is struggling financially, has to quickly get Rs 25,000 for his mother’s medical treatment. As he waits for his friend, who has promised him money, he crosses paths with Prince, the scion of a wealthy business empire who doesn’t think twice about splurging money. Little does Priyan know about the events that would entail when he befriends Prince with the intention of getting monetary help.

Adios Amigo review: Majority of the people would have encountered a random stranger, suddenly asking for a small sum; sometimes to help with medical expenses, to buy a ticket to the next stop or just to have a glass of tea. In those moments, we hardly get to know if the person’s intentions are pure or not, as we make the decision to either give them the money or offer a dismissive look instead. In director Nahas Nazar’s directorial debut Adios Amigo, the filmmaker shines light on one such person and offers an elaborative look at his plight as he hesitates to ask for help from a man who seems to have no problem splurging his ancestral wealth.

Even though the film’s scriptwriter Thankam has treated it as a feel-good movie that is replete with moments that signal ‘money is spent well when it’s given to those in need’, there are several layers to film. It’s not just about Priyan (Suraj Venjaramoodu), a painter who is knee-deep in debts and is desperate for Rs 25,000 for his mother’s medical treatment; but it also focuses on how even the rich have their priorities realigned, sometimes forcing them to even beg.

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Asif Ali’s character of Prince is introduced as someone who has no qualms about wasting money; so much that he complains that people call him a spendthrift but isn’t conscious about the fact of how much of his wealth he is squandering. The second protagonist Priyan belongs to the other extreme end of the spectrum, he is someone who has lost all his wealth due to failed attempts at businesses and now has to bear the taunts of his friends. Combine this with elements of a road trip and the movie has enough going for it to make a good feel-good film that has both delightful and poignant moments. And yet Adios Amigo squanders this opportunity.

This is mainly due to the overstretched narrative, resulting from the makers trying to show too much about the struggles of both individuals. This also lets the audience question why Priyan sticks with an almost always inebriated Prince for over a day, when his mother is in the hospital and he is frequently contacted by his sister to know about his whereabouts. The length of the film, which is almost 2 hours and 40 minutes long, is the main villain, marring its good intentions. Even the most patient of viewers would be tested in the second half, where the plot seems to be going round and round in circles with a payoff that isn’t quite rewarding.

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That said, credit must go to the two central actors - Suraj and Asif - for their consistency in their performance. It could have been easy for Asif’s Prince to be an irritating character, given that he’s drunk most of the time. But the actor doesn’t let his control sway. Suraj’s role adds the emotional quotient to the film, especially in sequences where he breaks down to his sister or sheds a tear when he is taunted by his friend for never learning from his mistakes. Shine Tom Chacko's cameo infuses some energy into the proceedings in the second half, which really needed that to keep the audience interested in the ending. 

Jakes Bejoy’s background score also sustains the feel-good tone of the movie, even when the pacing becomes uneven and even testing towards the end.

Adios Amigo verdict: Though Asif Ali and Suraj Venjaramoodu’s film has its heart in the right place, the overstretched narrative and a long runtime will test the patience of the audience.