Director: Ayan Mukerji
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, Kiara Advani
Duration – 173 Minutes
 
You'd expect a movie that combines Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR to be unstoppable. On paper, War 2 is a dream — a high-octane spy thriller, worldwide action, a hauntingly tough betrayal, and two superstars going head-to-head. But what we have is a movie that looks tremendous, punches tough, and yet somehow fails to pack the punch it promised.
 
The film resumes with Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), the hero of the original War, now on the bad side of R&AW. Or so it appears. Along comes Vikram (Jr NTR), a tough, emotionally nuanced agent tasked with arresting Kabir. A plot swirls around them involving assassinations, international conspiracies, and a cabal of shadowy elites attempting to destabilize India. Also in the mix is Kavya (Kiara Advani), who starts off as a promising character but ultimately becomes an afterthought in the chaos.
 
The movie is slick. Slick, slick. Director Ayan Mukerji has a keen sense of scale and spectacle, and it comes across in virtually every frame. From snowcapped mountains in Manali to the Amsterdam neon lights, every setting is a feast for the eyes. Both Hrithik and NTR have entrances that are majestic and clap-worthy. War 2 runs on pure adrenaline for a while. But the rush of adrenaline fades, and all that remains is a predictable combination of slow-motion strolls, mystifying voiceovers, and chase scenes that are more duty-bound than thrilling.
 
The greatest problem is the script. Shridhar Raghavan, who has written nearly all of YRF's recent spy initiatives (Pathaan, Tiger 3, and War), appears to be in a rut. The beats are all the same — a betrayal, a covert mission, a revelation, a redemption. You can actually anticipate when the background score is going to swell. Even when there is a twist (and believe it or not, there is), it does not feel deserved. It just. occurs.
 
As for the performances, Jr NTR wins the more nuanced role. He portrays Vikram with a seething anger and emotional control that periodically pierces the gloss. Hrithik appears effortless, as ever — crisp in action, ravishing in close-ups — but his character is less developed. Kabir is more of a pose than a person this time around. Kiara Advani is totally wasted, and her character is forgotten halfway through the first half.
 
The second half of War 2 feels quite dragging, losing the momentum built in the first hour. While both hero entries are top-notch — Hrithik's arrival is stylish as ever, NTR's entry steals the show with full-blown South-style action and a powerful BGM that sets the tone right. The film could’ve benefited more if it focused on tightening the plot instead of relying heavily on VFX and globetrotting visuals. That said, the holiday release, long weekend, and high-octane action might still make it work at the box office. It’s massy, loud, and aimed at fans.
 
The music too is a disappointment. While Aavan Jaavan is nicely done, the over-hyped Janaab E Ali is a disappointment both in terms of sound and visual handling. None of the songs approach Jai Jai Shiv Shankar from the old War, and it is discernibly missing in the emotional flow of the film.
 
There are moments where War 2 gives us glimpses of something more. A thrilling exchange between the leads, a breakdown moment for Vikram, or one of the infrequent quiet beats amidst action set-pieces — these are moments that suggest what the film might have been had it just slowed down enough to catch its breath.
 
But instead, War 2 keeps sprinting. It doesn’t stop to ask if we’re still watching, still caring. It assumes the explosions and the stunts are enough. And maybe for some, they are. But for a film carrying the weight of a massive franchise and two of India’s biggest stars, War 2 ends up as a very expensive missed opportunity.