Head to Head Review: After a long time, I had a great time watching a comedy thriller that brings together offbeat humour and gritty thrill in a seamless manner. The result is a full-filled ride that doesn’t let one take their eyes off-screen in case they miss the fun that’s incorporated in almost every scene in the movie. Ras Bras (its original Saudi title) is a treat and a perfect binge-watch material.
With Abdulaziz Alshehri and Adel Radwan in the lead roles along with Mohammad Alqass and Ziyad Alamri, the Netflix movie has been written by Abdulaziz Almuzaini and directed by Malik Nejer. Each of these people has done a commendable job that has, together, resulted in a hilarious one-and-a-half hour of utter entertainment.
Head to Head Synopsis
When Darwish (Adel Radwan) and Riyadh (Abdulaziz Alshehri), two guys working for a cab company called Sheikh’s Chauffeur, mistakenly pick up The King of Diamonds, Tony Botros Al-Mesih, a notorious ganglord, from the airport, they find themselves facing the wrath of Tony’s son Jack of Diamonds who has kidnapped their friends. An exchange is planned, but it boomerangs, pulling Darwish and Riyadh into a comical cauldron of confusion and chaos.
Head to Head Review: Discussion
First and foremost, I have to hand it to writer Abdulaziz Almuzaini for writing such a gripping story that, despite having so many fun elements, doesn’t lose track of the story that has been meticulously crafted. The confusion could have been overwhelming, but Almuzaini ensured this doesn’t happen. And director Malik Nejer executes every scene in a way that couldn’t have been better. Be it the action or just two people talking to each other, everything falls into place and gives us the satisfaction that comes with placing together a jigsaw puzzle wherein each piece falls into place, eventually revealing the bigger picture.
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Actors Abdulaziz Alshehri and Adel Radwan deserve special mention for their portrayal of Darwish and Riyadh, respectively. From their dialogue delivery to their expression to the way they carry themselves throughout the movie, they are a treat to watch. And not just them, the rest of the cast to just a commendable job of pulling off their characters to the tee. This is what makes the otherwise sort-of-nonsensical comedy appear grounded.
Kudos to Abdulaziz Almuzaini for the characterization as well. Each character is distinctly different from the rest and yet all of them belong to the same world. While there is humour, there is also an underlying aspect of how death is casual for all of them. From the way Riyadh deals with the dead body to Latifa’s mother who was killed by her father, death is normal. This gives the movie a dark side too.
The overall look of the movie, too, deserves to be applauded, as it only adds to the plot and its gritty nature. The world of Bathaikha certainly looks like a place where one wouldn’t dare to go without a gun and where death is a regular thing, just like eating and drinking. It is the world as well that contributes to the plot and justifies the characters’ actions.
Head to Head Review: Final Thoughts
The movie offers the perfect balance between humour and high stakes that is sure to evoke a lot of laughter as well as have you keep a check on what’s happening because you never know what’s going to happen next. This excitement makes the movie a laughing ride.
Head to Head is now streaming on Netflix.
Have you seen the movie yet? Do let us know how you liked it in the comments below.