‘90ML’ Netflix Movie Review - A Formulaic Mass Drama that Fails to Impress

Director Shekar Reddy's latest offering, "90 ML," starring Karthikeya and Neha Solanki, attempts to explore the intriguing concept of a protagonist with a rare alcohol syndrome. However, despite its unique premise, the film falls short of delivering an engaging narrative and ends up being a lackluster affair.

The story revolves around Devadas (Karthikeya), a young man born with a fatal alcoholic syndrome that compels him to consume 90 milliliters of alcohol thrice a day to survive. Devadas falls in love with Suvasana (Neha Solanki), a woman who despises alcohol. The plot takes a twist when Jon Wik (Ravi Kishan) enters the picture and disrupts the love story, leading to chaos and conflict. The film attempts to juggle Devadas' drinking problem, his romantic pursuit, and the villainous character of Jon Wik but fails to create a cohesive and engaging narrative.

One of the film's few strengths lies in its old-school comedy, which manages to evoke laughter at regular intervals. Ravi Kishan delivers a commendable performance as Jon Wik, providing the film with some genuinely humorous moments alongside Baahubali Prabhakar and Adurs Raghu. The comedic sequences are well-designed and offer some respite from an otherwise uninspiring screenplay.

Karthikeya shows improvement in his acting skills compared to his previous films, and he carries the film on his shoulders with conviction. His efforts in refining his dancing abilities are evident in the well-executed song sequences. Rapper Roll Rida also impresses with his performance in a substantial role. However, these individual performances alone cannot salvage the film's shortcomings.

The central premise of the film, revolving around a rare disorder, raises questions about its plausibility. The portrayal of the disorder and the protagonist's survival mechanism through excessive alcohol consumption seem far-fetched and lacking in scientific accuracy. Furthermore, the film's direction and execution fail to deliver a fresh and innovative narrative. The plot relies heavily on clichéd and predictable sequences, and the dialogues lack depth and creativity. The overall storytelling feels outdated and lacks the necessary flair to captivate the audience.

Moreover, the film's editing is a significant drawback. With an excessive number of songs and repetitive breakup scenes, the pacing suffers, resulting in a bloated runtime. A tighter editing approach would have greatly benefited the film, enhancing its overall impact. Another critical flaw lies in the film's inadvertent glorification of alcoholism. The ending, where the heroine offers a glass of wine instead of milk, sends the wrong message and could have been handled more responsibly. Such a portrayal can be detrimental, considering the influence films have on society.

From a technical standpoint, "90 ML" boasts commendable production values, with impressive music by Anup Rubens. However, the overabundance of songs hampers the film's flow and contributes to the tedious viewing experience. The editing and art direction falls short of expectations, failing to create a visually captivating world. On the positive side, the fight sequences are well-choreographed, adding some excitement to the proceedings.

Director Shekar Reddy's execution of the film is average at best. While the concept holds promise, the narration falters in the second half, with repetitive scenes and an over-the-top ending that further undermines the film's credibility. The lack of fresh ideas and reliance on outdated storytelling techniques hinder the overall impact of the film.

In conclusion, "90 ML" is a formulaic mass drama that struggles to make a lasting impression. Despite its moments of comedy and some noteworthy performances, the film suffers from an unengaging narrative, poor editing, and an inadvertent glorification of alcoholism. While it may appeal to fans of old-school storytelling and formulaic films, those seeking innovation and fresh ideas may find themselves disappointed.

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by – Neha Krishna
Follow @Neha25Krishna on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times