Rating - 3/5

In one of the striking yet fleeting scenes of Aashiq Abu's Rifle Club, Sisily, played by Unnimaya Prasad, makes a passing joke. She advises a young couple, freshly eloped, to avoid her large extended family because they are known for their acerbic humour. In fact, we get a taste of what to expect from this “hunter-minded” family when a clumsy romantic film actor joins the club and becomes the butt of jokes at the dinner table. The members of the rifle club are ruthless in their comedic timing. They are sarcastic and deeply sardonic, whether delivering a punchline or sacrificing an ear to honour a pledge.

Thus, the brutal personas of everyone in the rifle club align with their hobby; each is truly a “son/daughter of a gun.” Abu’s film is crazily rizzed, slick, and vintage, but it seems he traded substance to achieve these cosmetic results.

In the opening half, the film breezes through, setting the stage. We are launched straight into the heart of the conflict, thanks to subtle narration and on-point one-liners and anecdotes by Dileesh Pothan. For me, he has somehow become a staple for these kinds of roles, especially after Ranjan Pramod’s Zero-Point Baby.

However, in the second half, the film struggles to find its footing, becoming both squandered and directionless. Since the director overly relies on the fast-paced narrative of the first half, he finds it hard to emotionally connect with the supporting cast, who, by this point, have become sacrificial lambs. The struggle to evoke empathy, even through reworked emotional appeals – including that of a skinny dog – feels futile. Some of the martyrdom borders on the comical and caricature-like. The CGI shots too are far from impressive, dragging down the film's pace.

Dileesh Pothan delivers a clean performance, while Kashyap fares well and matches the bill. The only real takeaway from this film, perhaps, is its clever one-liners and rough style. Ultimately, it feels like a passion project Aashiq Abu had imagined as a kid. And, just like that smirk on Vijayaraghavan’s face, Abu too might be smiling quietly to himself.