Desafios

Test arrives with a promising cast and an intriguing premise centered around cricket, but unfortunately, it stumbles in execution. While the actors give solid performances, they're let down by a disjointed narrative and lackluster writing.

Sidharth's character, portraying a cricketer, feels like the weakest link. Rather than driving the story forward, his role feels bland and underwritten, lacking the emotional depth or arc needed to engage the audience. What's most frustrating is how the film teases cricket as a major theme, yet barely touches it until well into the second half, making the first hour feel like a slog.

The story itself is a confusing jumble, with scenes and subplots that don't seem to connect meaningfully. Dialogues are flat and uninspired, doing little to elevate the already muddled storytelling. Despite the potential, Test fails to capitalize on either its cast or its central theme, ending up as a movie that's more forgettable than impactful. Great cast, wasted potential. If you're a cricket fan, you'll be waiting too long for too little.

F you've ever wondered what it's like to have your brain slowly dissolve into a pool of lukewarm oatmeal, TEST 2025 is your chance. I don't know what test they were running, but I failed-mostly because I sat through this cinematic car crash until the credits rolled, hoping for literally anything to happen. Spoiler: nothing did.

The plot, if you can call it that, unfolds like someone dropped the script into a paper shredder, glued it back together at random, and filmed it in a basement lit by a single flickering LED. The acting? Imagine if a high school drama class was asked to improvise a sci-fi thriller during a fire drill. Every line delivery was so wooden, termites would've had a feast.

The effects were so cheap they made 1990s PowerPoint transitions look like Avatar. The villain wore what I can only assume was a repurposed Halloween costume, and the climactic battle involved more awkward grunting than an amateur wrestling match at a retirement home.

By the end, I wasn't sure if I had watched a movie or just hallucinated the worst episode of Black Mirror ever made. Watching paint dry would've been more emotionally fulfilling-and probably had better pacing.

Verdict: If you value your time, your brain cells, and your will to live, avoid TEST 2025 like it's radioactive. Which, coincidentally, might be the plot of the inevitable sequel.

Test (2025)" is a textbook example of a wasted opportunity. Despite a star-studded cast, the film falls flat due to its painfully dull screenplay and uninspired execution.

Madhavan seems to be trying hard to carry the film, but even his efforts can't save the sinking ship. Nayanthara appears completely out of sync with the narrative-her character lacks depth, and her presence feels more ornamental than impactful. Siddharth, on the other hand, delivers a robotic performance with zero emotional range, making it hard to connect with his character at any point.

The biggest letdown is the screenplay-disjointed, sluggish, and lacking any engaging moments. It drags without purpose, testing the patience of the audience rather than offering any meaningful cinematic experience.

Cricket scenes were disastrous.

Test (2025) : Movie Review -

It's good that the film was released on Netflix instead of in cinemas; otherwise, it would have been more difficult to see. It's messier than a boring cricket match and cheesier than a match-fixing racket. It's funny to see that the two sides have no literal alignment as they suddenly transform into heroes or villains and vice versa. Moreover, it's too long-about two and a half hours-yet still lacking in drama and action. That's your stretched Test cricket match in the T20 era.

Arjun (Siddharth) is India's best Test batsman in years but is now feeling the pressure of retirement. Sara (R. Madhavan) wants to start his project but has no money, while his wife, Kumudha (Nayanthara), is trying to have a child through IVF. With the final Test of the India vs. Pakistan series ahead, Arjun is asked to retire, but then a dramatic twist by him earns him another chance. However, what could be his last match is spoiled when Sara turns evil and kidnaps Arjun's son to prepare him for a match-fixing gang. Will Arjun be able to fight this on-and-off field?

The film has a messy screenplay that truly tests your patience with no exciting conflict. Every single element is predictable and tedious. The battle between good and evil and the choices between right and wrong constantly shift sides, making it an illogical affair. For instance, Kumudha is a big cricket fan and a huge admirer of Arjun, yet she suddenly transforms into a selfish woman. It's utterly ridiculous. Additionally, I never really understood the match-fixing theme in terms of logical reasoning on the cinematic horizon, because you can fix one batsman but not the other ten players from his team and eleven opponents. How do you expect the results to favor you with twenty-one predictable players on the field? The climax becomes corny, leaving you unsatisfied after spending almost 150 minutes on something that didn't really deserve it.

Performance-wise, R. Madhavan has done a decent job. Frankly, after seeing Vikram Vedha and Shaitaan, something like this feels underwhelming. Nayanthara was also okay here, but I expected more-from her as an actress and from the writer for her character, and both didn't deliver enough. Siddharth was the lead hero, but he is easily overshadowed by others. Meera Jasmine and Kali Venkat provided decent support in important roles, while Vinay Verma, MJ Ram, Aadukalam Murugadoss, Nassar, and others were hardly notable.

Almost every cricket film made in India shares the same issue of executing cricket matches and shots in cheap ways. They lack cinematic sense and value. Somehow, Kabir Khan's 83 (2020) came close to capturing the feel of an actual live match, while others have mostly approached it in a TV serial manner. Test is another film that lacks the cinematic essence of cricket matches. The cinematography and editing should have been better here, whereas the production design was fine. First, S. Sashikanth and Suman Kumar's writing disappoints, and then there's Sashikanth's direction. Test is dragged to the point where you lose interest in the film, only to start moving things accordingly to get the ending right. That's just not done, man. Even fixed cricket matches would have a better script and presentation than this. Skip Test and enjoy IPL instead.

RATING - 4/10*

"Test" (2025) showcases the undeniable talent of R. Madhavan, who delivers a stunning performance. However, the film is ultimately let down by a flat and unengaging storyline that fails to captivate the audience.

R. Madhavan commands the screen with his charisma and acting prowess. His portrayal of the character is nuanced and compelling, demonstrating his ability to elevate even a weak script.

Unfortunately, the film's narrative struggles to maintain interest. The story lacks originality and fails to offer any compelling plot developments or emotional depth. The pacing feels slow and uneven, making it difficult to stay invested in the characters' journeys.

The supporting cast, while capable, is given little to work with. The characters are underdeveloped and their relationships lack complexity, further contributing to the film's overall lack of engagement.

The film's technical aspects are adequate, with decent cinematography and a fitting soundtrack. However, these elements are not enough to compensate for the film's narrative shortcomings.

Despite Madhavan's stellar performance, "Test" is a disappointing cinematic experience. Its lack of engaging story and emotional depth makes it a film that is easily forgotten.