Aadu 3: One Last Ride - Part 1 Movie Review:

First, a quick flashback. Aadu 2 ends with Shaji Pappan and gang striking a jackpot: a bag full of American dollars that could change their lives forever. Come the third instalment, they still haven’t exchanged the money, convinced it can only be done upon reaching America. Fed up with the delay, Captain Cleetus (Dharmajan Bolgatty) attempts to deal directly with US President Donald Trump, who is on an official visit nearby. The result is predictable. Cleetus is nabbed and labelled a terrorist, prompting a daring rescue attempt by the gang, only for things to spiral further.

Sounds absurd? Absolutely. But that is precisely the point of the Aadu franchise, which thrives on chaotic, slapstick-driven, and unapologetically mindless comedy.

Director: Midhun Manuel Thomas
Cast: Jayasurya, Vinayakan, Saiju Kurup, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Sunny Wayne, Vijay Babu
Rating: 3/5

Writer-director Midhun Manuel Thomas thinks bigger this time, blending genres like fantasy and time travel while retaining the franchise’s core spirit. The narrative spans three timelines: AD 2370, the present, and AD 1790, linked by an otherworldly stone with supernatural powers. This continues a familiar franchise motif — the pursuit of something rare and valuable that can bring eternal fortune, whether it was Neelakoduveli in the first part or currency plates in the second. Along with Shaji Pappan and gang, other fan-favourite characters return in full force for this hunt. Satan Xavier, Dude, Sarbath Shameer, Kanjavu Soman, and Sasi Aashan are back, joined by a few international faces that add to the chaos.

The film’s USP lies in how the different timelines intersect, with the non-linear storytelling adding to the intrigue. While the present-day portions are easy to follow, the 18th-century track takes time to settle. To their credit, the makers do not compromise on the film’s ambition, ensuring even the period portions are mounted with care, despite the film being a comedy at its core. Akhil George’s visuals ensure these segments feel well-crafted, with rich production values to match. Midhun also weaves a fairly engaging multi-timeline narrative while maintaining the franchise’s trademark goofiness.

Shaan Rahman’s iconic themes and Dawn Vincent’s fresh injection of energy in the background score combine effectively to sustain the film’s fun quotient. At one point in the climax, the score even bears a striking resemblance to the popular ‘Veera Dheera’ track from Kalki 2898 AD. A case of influence, perhaps.

Like any successful franchise, Aadu also thrives on a balance of familiarity and freshness. While the storyline spanning different eras lends it the desired freshness, Midhun leans on familiarity to play to the gallery. There are frequent callback lines, reworked punch dialogues, recurring musical cues, and self-references, which may not always serve the story but deliver for loyal fans. Signature high moments are also reserved for fan favourites like Shaji Pappan, Satan Xavier (who arguably gets the best intro), Dude with a striking second coming, and Sarbath Shameer.

A notable upgrade is the introduction of a prominent (though one-note) female character, played by Alleya Bourne, who impresses with her agility and commanding screen presence. Meanwhile, franchise regulars such as Jayasurya, Vinayakan, Dharmajan, Indrans, and Vijay Babu stick to the traits, mannerisms, and dialogue delivery that made their characters popular.

After a high-voltage chase involving helicopters, speedboats, and snipers, the film seems to build toward a fitting conclusion. Instead, it ends abruptly midway, setting up the next part. This comes despite a runtime nearing three hours. Sure, the cliffhanger is intriguingly absurd, but it raises a question. Is there enough material to justify splitting the story? A tighter first half, especially trimming the prolonged setup around the stone’s location, along with unnecessary detours like the ‘special dance number’, might have allowed the story to conclude within a single film.

That could have made this a truly complete experience—a genuine one last ride. Or are we in for more madness, with characters stranded in timelines they don’t belong to? For now, we wait for the ‘final ride’.