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EDITOR'S PICK
`Mickey
Virus` - cool crisp and quirky (IANS Movie Review)
Rating: ***1/2
`Mickey Virus` is Bollywood's first full-fledged film on the virtual
world. The hero -if we may call Manish Paul's languid lazy vagabondish character
that - is a computer hacker, and one who likes to take his time over every punch
of the keyboard.
Mercifully, debutant director Saurabh Varma's film moves in a mood defiantly
opposite to the hero's indolent indiscretions. Tightly-scripted, cleverly-worded
and arrestingly encrypted, `Mickey Virus` drags the hackers'
hemisphere into the hectic mode.
I am tempted to use computer jargon to describe the ultra-svelte moves that
define the virtual progression of this slickly-executed cyber-drama. Alas, I am
not as equipped as our debutant hero and his comp-friendly pals (with names like
'Floppy' and 'Chutney') to throw around electronic jargon.
Even if your familiarity with the virtual world is minimal, `Mickey
Virus` makes for enjoyable viewing. It's voguish, vibrant, vital and viral,
and yet extremely fastidious about keeping the plot above the temptation of
throwing virtual weight around.
First and foremost, this is a well-woven thriller about an average 20-something
Delhi dude who falls in love and falls into a cyber-trap and hits his head into
a scam that could destroy his life.
To reveal any more of the plot would be akin to giving away the film's USPs.
Suffice to say that Varma knows his cinema as closely as he knows his computer.
He weaves cinematic elements into a kind of one-night-in-the-life-of ... tale
that spins in dizzying motions.
Delhi, that favourite city of many recent, decent and indecent, dramas and
thrillers, is again caught in sinister provocative postures. The roads and
lanes, Nehru Place or a chowmein outlet, every outdoor location has a story to
tell.
Strange, how Manish, switching effortlessly from his cocky on-stage antics on
reality shows to a kind of languorous screen appearance that is dangerously
close to Ranbir Kapoor's Sid-meets-`Besharam` act, pulls out all stops
to make Mickey look real to the point of being your next door neighbour's son,
much in the same way as Ayushmann Khurrana.
Only, Manish is goofier, more adventurous in his exploration of adrift urbanite.
He is undoubtedly an interesting actor with an unpremeditated screen presence.
Let's put it this way -- if over-instruction obstructs Mickey's dexterity on the
computer, then too many rehearsals are sure to spoil Manish's
camera-friendliness.
`Mickey Virus` gives the debutant a chance to romance the dark side of
youngistan with unselfconscious fluidity. There is also a cutely written romance
woven into the hacker's tale. Eli Avram currently locked away in `Bigg
Boss` house shows up as a manifestation of ... well, Manish's virtual
fantasy named Kungfu Chameli. There is an endearing courtship plan blessedly not
over-punctuated by songs. God Forbid! Manish's Mickey probably doesn't even
watch Bollywood films!
For a newcomer to shoulder a thriller adeptly there must be some accomplished
actors around him for support. Manish gets his namesake Manish Choudhary as a
stern placid police officer who needs Mickey's hacking skills to track an
international gang. Choudhary is in fine (uni)form. But the very talented Varun
Badola as Choudhary's assistant is a scene stealer. Mouthing the film's
catchiest lines casually, Varun brings more to his role than what's written for
the character. The rest of the supporting cast too gets into the mood of the
plot.
Undoubtedly, `Mickey Virus` is Manish's made-to-order vehicle. He
casually invites us into his suddenly-troubled world and then persuades us to
cringe at the progressive crisis built around Delhi's cyber stratosphere. The
uniqueness of the plot works effectively in covering up the loopholes and rather
embarrassing coincidences that bridge various dramatic elements in the plot. It
does get far-flung. But the leaps are made without fractured bones.
Quirky, colourful, agile and hectic, `Mickey Virus` is a 'virtually'
interesting way for Manish and his director to start their respective careers.
This is an oddball of a movie that tries to make sense of the senseless
whirligig of urban internet-driven lifestyles.
What the 'hack'! Just go out there and have fun.
MICKEY VIRUS is a comic thriller set in Delhi, India. When Delhi Police comes across a case revolving around hacking, they begin the search to find a computer hacker who can help them crack this case. The head of the police team ACP Siddhanth (Manish Choudhary), stumbles across Mickey Arora (Manish Paul), a lazy but street smart hacker who can actually help them solve the case. Mickey runs a grocery store in day time and creates virus's for anti virus companies in the night. He is also head over heals in love with a character he has created in his game called "Kung Fu Chameli" and will do anything to get out of hard work to do whatever he wants to do. Little does he know that ACP Siddhanth accompanied by Inspector Bhalla (Varun Badola) are tough nuts to crack...