War 2 Movie Review: The actioner has a licence to thrill but struggles to keep the momentum

Story: Former secret agent Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) is hired by an international criminal syndicate, Kali, to eliminate India’s Prime Minister and take over the nation. R&AW sends its best soldier, Special Units Officer, Vikram (Junior NTR), to stop him. Review: Review: A chiselled mercenary taking on an army of Japanese bodyguards, taming a ferocious wolf with just a gaze, engaging in swordfights, and more should tell you what to expect from the latest chapter in the YRF spy universe. This is a film where logic takes a backseat to the sheer scale and spectacle of its action. From the outset, director Ayan Mukerji sets the stage for death-defying stunts and an edge-of-the-seat action ride. The stakes rise when a global criminal syndicate, Kali, recruits Kabir to bring India to its knees in a bid to seize control over governments worldwide. The R&AW team, comprising Special Units Officer Vikram, Wing Commander Kavya Luthra (Kiara Advani), and Chief Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor), is tasked with stopping Kabir after he assassinates his mentor, Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana). Featuring Benjamin Jasper’s cinematography and Spiro Razatos, Se-yeong Oh, and Sunil Rodrigues’s stunt choreography, the movie has relentless action, grand set pieces, and exotic locales. Stunts unfold atop bullet trains, airplanes, on a boat, and amid the snowy Swiss mountains. However, a weak script (Aditya Chopra) and screenplay (Shridhar Raghavan), an abrupt and haphazard flashback, limited spy-drama payoff, and uneven narrative take away the edge. The movie attempts to pack in twists, but most end up being ineffective and cliched. At almost three hours, the narrative overstretches, with the pacing slowing the momentum especially in the second half. The VFX is jarring in many instances, and scenes lack polish.Hrithik Roshan brings gravitas to the screen as the roguish yet poised Kabir. He impresses as a high-octane action hero and in the film’s emotional moments. Junior NTR matches his energy and intensity, holding his own as a performer and in executing the action sequences. Kiara Advani makes her presence felt despite limited screen time, though the use of stunt doubles in an early fight scene is noticeable. Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor are impactful in their roles.War 2 offers high-octane moments, striking visuals, and polished production to make for a passable big-screen experience. Strictly watchable only if you’re in it purely for the action and spectacle.