Too Old for Fairies, Not Too Old for Firepower 😜

Too Old for Fairies, Not Too Old for Firepower 😜 : My quick take on Toxic (Theatrical release) Hindi version

Toxic is what happens when a fairy tale grows up, develops anger issues, discovers guns, gangsters and generational trauma, and decides that happily ever after is grossly overrated.

The film is ambitious, stylish and unapologetically dark. It has the scale of a fairy tale, the mood of a fever dream, and enough toxicity to make a chemical laboratory nervous.

But here’s the catch: Toxic is more toxic to your patience than to its characters. 😜

And honestly, I may be the wrong audience for the “fairy tale” bit.

I am too old for fairies. In fact, I’m too old to remember any from my childhood. These days, the only “Fairy” I know is the detergent liquid my wife asks me to pick up when I’m in a supermarket. 😜

Not sure about fairies, but the tooth fairies seem to have worked overtime here. Almost every action set piece appears to come with its own “teeth transplant” session. 😜

And then there’s the film’s interesting mathematical equation:

If one male Toxicity = the combined toxicity of five females, namely Rukmini, Kiara, Huma, Tara and Nayanthara, then the makers have definitely nailed the title!

That is not a love triangle.

That is a toxicity pentagon.

And then there is Yash.

Hyper swagger. Great looks. Chiselled physique.

The man may not have been born with a golden spoon, but he certainly gives you the feeling he was born with a bazooka in one hand and a magnetic aura in the other.

Enough magnetism to make you weak in the knees before the action sequence even begins.

And to his credit, he carries that swagger beautifully throughout the movie. Whether he is walking, fighting, staring or simply standing there looking like trouble has hired a personal stylist, Yash owns the screen.

The visuals are lavish. The action is extravagant. The gore is generous.

The narrative, however, occasionally seems to have taken a coffee break.

It wants to be a fairy tale for adults, but forgets that even adults need a story they can follow without an instruction manual.

So, if you are into guns, gulz, goons, gang wars and gore, go for it.

If you are looking for a tightly woven story with a little less ballistic therapy, perhaps carry some patience along with your popcorn.

Toxic? Absolutely.

Entertaining? In doses.

Fairy tale? Definitely.

For adults? Clearly.

A happily-ever-after? That would be far too non-toxic.

Just don’t expect the fairy godmother to show up.

She probably went to the supermarket to buy Fairy.

P.S. Since I watched the Hindi version, I’m curious to know how the original Kannada version sounds. Maybe I’ll wait for the OTT release and give the original a shot.