Slipping up with inferior follow-ups to excellent debuts is not a new phenomenon. In recent times we have had directors like Suryah(Vaali and then Kushi) who disappointed us with their second outings after expectation-inducing debut efforts. But Erajakumaran is probably the director whose second effort is the most disappointing compared to his first. His first movie Nee Varuvaai Ena took a weak story and transformed it into a very enjoyable entertainer with an unexpected twist, good comedy and a different climax. But Vinnukkum Mannukkum takes an age-old story and treats it in the least interesting way possible.

The film got some publicity after its release when Devayani eloped with the director Erajakumaran and in typical filmi style, married him in a secret ceremony at a temple, against the wishes of their parents. While this might kindle some interest among the public and send some of them to the theater out of curiosity, the movie doesn't contain anything that will keep even such viewers entertained.

Sakthivel Gounder(Sarathkumar) is the doting elder brother of Selvam(Vikram), who has just returned from Singapore. Selvam falls in love with Devayani(Devayani), a popular film actress and wishes to marry her. Devayani arrives in town for a shooting and due to some miscommunication in which her mother plays a key part, Sakthivel and his entire family is under the mistaken impression that the marriage of Selvam and Devayani is on. But Devayani rudely shoots down their proposal when it is broached. Sakthivel then asks his brother not to show his face to him until he has married Devayani and Selvam travels to the city to do his brother's bidding.

The director is guilty of overdoing sentiments and emotions to the point where they have no effect and just seem unnatural. Though we have seen several movies where elder brothers dote on their brothers and sisters, Sarathkumar's behavior towards Vikram is strangely unmoving. The scene in the theater, where the same ad is repeated for the benefit of the villagers, is symptomatic of the rest of the movie. It starts off funny but soon gets boring. Devayani's outburst at Sarathkumar and family at the airport is also way over the top. It seems even more silly since she knows that her mother was responsible for misleading them and even seems upset by this.

Complete suspension of disbelief is necessary to accept that Devayani is unaware that she is thought of as Vikram's fiance. And the entire first half is based on this single idea. Things show signs of becoming interesting with Vikram's entry into Devayani's house. The character of her father seems different and a couple of his lines, like his hatred towards director Agathiyan and his irritation at the way people address him, are funny. This, coupled with Vikram's mode of talking to the servants, suggests that the movie may be heading towards a comic approach. But this doesn't last too long. The fact that Devayani's father has different tastes compared to his wife and daughter is silly and the way they use this is amateurish.

There is no relief with the romance either. Vikram's attempts to woo Devayani are neither interesting nor cute and her change of heart, based on the flimsiest of reasons, is not convincing. The movie then turns into a routine masala flick with an evil financier and fight sequences for both Vikram and Sarathkumar. The director tries to introduce some tension but with the movie already seeming too long, the attempt just ends up irritating us more.

Vikram's first tamil movie after Sethu has taken a long time to hit the screen but offers no oppurtunity for his newfound acting skills. Devayani is adequate and uses her own voice. Sarathkumar plays one more of his Naattaamai roles with Kushboo keeping him company. Ramesh Khanna evokes a few laughs as the harried director. Sirpy has some good tunes like Sembaruthipoo... and Unakkenna Unakkenna.... The picturisation of the Vinnukkum Mannukkum... sequence earns the director some points.