Sherlock Toms

Sherlock Toms is not a suspense thriller but an animated drama that crosses the line of exaggeration at all levels. Biju Menon plays a slacker of an IRS officer with wife problems who blames his destiny for his incompetence and inability to solve cases. He then uses smoke and mirrors to give it one more try and thereby takes the plot to a level that is unprecedented in Malayalam cinema. Although the film has 5 jokes in total (thanks to Raffi) that are actually funny, Sherlock Toms builds itself on a story that cannot be justified in any way. Watching this 150-minute long, long-winded, unenterprising drama is like selling your soul to the devil and not making a great deal out of it. With annoying characters played without a pinch of salt by more annoying actors like Srinda Ashab and Mia George, the film is an all-time low for Shafi who gave us the funnier Two Countries in 2015. It should be noted that Shafi also contributed in the screenplay, and clearly it's not his forte. Even Menon cannot save the film from imploding and spiraling into a pit that has the likes of Achayans, Ramante Edanthottam, Velipadinte Pusthakam, and Comrade in America in 2017 itself. Sherlock Toms is an outrageous film that deserves to be shunned for its basic lack of entertainment. No excuses. TN.