The first scene of director Venkat Prabhu's Vijay-starring film GOAT (The Greatest of All Time) establishes the mood. A clandestine group of operatives under the command of Gandhi (Vijay) are on a recuperation mission against the evil Rajiv Menon (Mohan). As the movie's title suggests, Gandhi steals the show with an action sequence that features his distinct flair. However, due to the situation, Gandhi is stopped by his companion before he can take the fatal shot at Rajiv. This scene serves as something of a summation for the entire story, and Venkat and his team's moments of brilliance really shine in this model movie that has been elevated by flawless fan service.
The group of seasoned agents/friends, led by Nazeer (Jayaram), consists of Kalyan (Prabhu Deva), Ajay (Ajmal), and Sunil (Prashanth). The reason Gandhi's wife Anu (Sneha) isn't impressed when work intrudes into their personal space is because we see them as ordinary office workers with the typical office banter without their justifications being used in the name of patriotism. You know that things can't possibly be going well, and that this is merely the quiet before the storm, unless GOAT is your first action thriller. Therefore, the pedal to the floor is slammed, and GOAT transforms into a Chupacabra when ultimately disaster occurs and the movie jumps forward to 2008.
In spite of the large ensemble cast, Vijay steals the show in his twin roles as Jeevan, the son of Gandhi. Furthermore, Venkat allows both characters enough room to shine because he is aware of his task. In addition to taking care of their menage, they both have a task to accomplish and a fair share of losses. The film's and his hero's greatest moments occur at the dichotomy. In the part where his character suffers a significant loss, actor Vijay takes center stage as Gandhi. Vijay nails the role of a man with many responsibilities that become a burden and ultimately result in grief. But Jeevan undoubtedly steals the show, which is why the name is definitely appropriate, and it's amazing to watch.
A significant element of what makes GOAT successful is how it plays to the crowd instead of raising the stakes. And when the movie enters fan service mode, there's no turning back. GOAT is unquestionably a pop-culture treasure trove packed with its share of exciting appearances and a magnificent homage to a late legend. It features dance moves, hat-tips to Vijay's past big films, and even mannerisms and references to his colleagues and political innuendos.
