Movie Review – The Pet Detective (2025)

The Pet Detective (2025) tries to revive the nostalgic charm of 90s comedy-centric thrillers but ends up proving why that formula cannot be reused without meaningful writing. The film clearly aims for a climax filled with exaggerated humor and dramatic buildup, the kind that once made audiences roar with laughter despite the lack of logic. However, here the execution becomes the weak link — the climax stretches endlessly, draining the intended excitement and leaving the audience restless rather than amused.

It is quite evident that the screenplay lacks depth, research, and creative effort. The plot moves from scene to scene without strong transitions, and many sequences feel inserted only to fill runtime rather than push the story forward. By the end, the writing feels less polished than even amateur short films by new filmmakers — the kind that rely on random scenes instead of cohesive storytelling.

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 Technical Aspects

Department Verdict

Direction Lacks clarity and conviction
Screenplay Weak and unresearched
Cinematography The strongest aspect
Editing Below average; disturbs the film’s rhythm
Music/BGM Songs are difficult to sit through; BGM is bland
Trailer Beautiful and misleading

Cinematography arguably saves the film from looking like a complete disaster. The framing and color palette suit the tone, and the visual composition is pleasant. But editing severely drags the entire experience; the comedic timing collapses, transitions feel abrupt, and the pacing drops drastically during the climax.

The trailer, unfortunately, remains the best-crafted part of the movie — sharp, promising, and engaging. It raises expectations the film cannot fulfill.

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 Performances

Sharaf U Dheen is undeniably a talented actor — movies like Madhura Manohara Moham and his “mass” presence in Padakkalam are proof of his natural comedic timing and screen presence. However, The Pet Detective does not play to his strengths. Many comedy moments don’t feel like comedy, and mass moments don’t register at all. Even his performance seems trapped inside weak writing.

Anupama Parameswaran’s comic attempts fall flat; there is hardly any sequence where her performance lands effectively.
Vinay Forrt’s acting — usually celebrated for its eccentric energy — slips into excessive loudness and becomes irritating rather than funny.

A psycho-villain subplot is introduced with intrigue but thrown away without a proper resolution. Similarly, the track of the auto-driver character begins interestingly but ends abruptly, as if the team didn’t know how to justify his involvement.

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 Overall Impression

There is no doubt that the film is currently receiving support due to:

Audience affection toward Sharaf U Dheen

Heavy social-media hype

But once the film reaches OTT platforms — where viewers have the freedom to pause, skip, or quit — opinions are very likely to change.

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 Final Verdict

“The Pet Detective (2025)” is a movie with strong promotional appeal but weak cinematic value.
Despite good cinematography and a promising trailer, the film falls apart due to inefficient writing, stretched climax, lackluster humor, and inconsistent performances. What was intended to be a wild entertainer ultimately becomes a tiring watch.