I have been a fan of superheroes since the day I couldn’t even walk. I know how to judge a superhero movie, son. But people around me say if I watched Keluang Man, I need to lower my expectations. Shut your brain off. Don’t compare it to Hollywood. To you, I say: How can we progress if we lower our standard like that?
In this review, I’m gonna do the exact thing I was told not to do. I’m going to compare it to the Hollywood standard.
Nostalgic bait
This is the first complaint I noticed since this movie was released. This comes from a man who never grew up watching the animated series. Yet, I understand all references and jokes with no problems.
If this is about the use of 90’s soundtrack, you guys are lame. Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, Peacemaker. Most superhero movies use 90’s music because it rocks. It’s not that deep.
Even if it was a nostalgic bait, I don’t see why it’s wrong. Spider-Man: No Way Home used the same technique but the movie it’s still great. It’s not a nostalgic bait. It’s called appreciating the era when the source material was adapted from.
Story
If anything, we should judge a movie by its story. Which is great. This is a very original superhero story. It’s like the combination of Batman, Moon Knight, and Deadpool but Keluang Man is still very distinct from any of them.
Message
What does a good story consist of? The message. And that is mental illness. Yes, Borhan is a quirky and ‘crazy’ guy. But there are some scenes that show how disturbing his mind truly is. At some point, he knows when to stop being quirky and be serious. That climactic scene where he says, “Aku tak gila. Aku sakit”, was really satisfying. It shows that Borhan had grown and accepted his weakness. To show he needs help while still able to help people.
So, is the movie good?
No, I’m not done yet.
CGIs
This is the only part where I didn’t compare this movie to Hollywood standard. CGI is expensive. Regardless, it’s still very good. More than serviceable.
But dear god, why do they need to CGI that cat…
Humor
Another complaint that I received is the humour. People say it’s cringey and bland. However, Keluang Man is a mentally ill person. Being cringe is a part of his character. Regardless, I still think the movie is still pretty funny.
My favourite scene is when Keluang Man went all-out meta and slapped the production crews. And, when he’s all sad, pretending to be Awie in a music video.
Let me tell you something important. His meta jokes are a narrative tool to show how sick he is! It’s not a cheap attempt to copy Deadpool.
Superhero Suit
Speaking of favourite scenes, I have one more to talk about.
When was the last time you saw a movie where the superhero made his own costume?
Exactly.
It has been a while. Most superheroes these days have their costumes professionally made by super-secret spy agencies.
I love that montage scene where Borhan made his superhero costume and started from the bottom. It shows progress and how independent he is by the time he’s got his own costume.
Wait, did I catch myself flattering this movie again? Let’s get back to the negative parts.
Pacing
I think the pacing is a bit off. There are some scenes that could be longer and shorter. The fight scene in the warehouse is too long, in my opinion. Borhan’s fight scene with Shamsir is too short, to be honest.
However, the time spent with Doctor Malini where they bond as they find out Borhan’s origin is well done. His entire origin is told by phases in different scenes, not in one long excruciating narrated scene like I’ve seen at the beginning of Blood Brothers.
Fight Scenes
I need to criticise the fight scenes. There are too many cuts, and they’re overly edited. It’s hard for me to savour the hand-to-hand combat choreography. Plus, there are too many slow-motion sequences with the characters doing backflips and jumping. I think it can be solved if they recorded one-shot fight scenes a la Daredevil in a hallway.
Extras
I know they’re just extras, but, man, they’re bad actors. Some jokes and montage sequences are ruined by their stiff performance.
And when I said actors, I mean the extras! Not the lead!
Nas-T as Keluang Man
When I first saw the trailer, I was nervous. He sounds so stiff with his narration. However, after watching the movie, I think Nas-T nailed at becoming Keluang Man.
He knows how to be quirky and have a mental breakdown. That scene where he smashes his head on the wall? Nicely, done. I’m sorry Nas-T, I wasn’t familiar with your game.
Police-Superhero dynamic
This is a common trope in superhero genres. Captain Stacy wants to arrest Spider-Man. Commissioner Gordon works with Batman. Detective Mahoney helps Daredevil.
In this movie, we see something truly unique. Inspector Sahab is not trying to arrest Keluang Man for the sake of being a cop. He’s trying to stop Keluang Man from causing the villains to retaliate. He tried to warn Keluang Man from doing something reckless. Honestly, I think that’s a good police-superhero dynamic.
Conclusion
Keluang Man may not have Hollywood-level polish, but its original story, strong message about mental illness, and unique touches like the homemade suit make it stand out. Some pacing and fight scenes could be better, and the extras’ acting is weak, but the lead’s performance and fresh police-superhero dynamic shine. Overall, it’s an enjoyable and honest film.
Rating: 7/10
