Is Alia Bhatt's ‘Alpha’ really that bad?

When YRF announced ‘Alpha’ as the first female-led film in its Spy Universe, the biggest question was whether the franchise could deliver another spy thriller that felt emotionally engaging after ‘Dhurandhar’.

The good news is that ‘Alpha’ isn't the misfire some early reactions have made it out to be. The disappointing part is that it never becomes the breakthrough film it had the potential to be.

The story follows twin sisters Sita (Alia Bhatt) and Durga (Sharvari), whose lives are torn apart in childhood when one is abducted and raised by the ruthless Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat (Bobby Deol).

Years later, fate places them on opposite sides of a dangerous mission involving the mysterious Alpha programme, a project designed to create genetically enhanced super soldiers.

What begins as a spy thriller slowly turns into a story about identity, family and the consequences of a stolen childhood.

One of the film's biggest strengths is its action. The fight choreography is clean and easy to follow, avoiding the frantic editing. The bike chases, gunfights and hand-to-hand combat are staged with confidence, even if they don't reach the level of a John Wick film.

The pacing also works in the film's favour. At 2 hours and 20 minutes, ‘Alpha’ moves briskly and rarely feels like it's dragging.

Bobby Deol is the film's standout performer. His Haryanvi accent may not always be convincing, but the rage and menace in his eyes sell the character.

Anil Kapoor, meanwhile, does what Anil Kapoor always does, he brings credibility and weight even when the screenplay doesn't fully support him.

Alia Bhatt commits wholeheartedly to the physical demands of the role and carries the action. However, the writing often lets her down. Many of her dialogues feel overly theatrical than natural, making some emotional moments less convincing.

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Sharvari fares better whenever she gets space. She has a strong screen presence, handles the action well and shares good chemistry with Alia, making it difficult not to wish the film had treated both women as equal protagonists than a supporting player.

Hrithik Roshan's appearance as Kabir from 'War', will definitely get cheers in theatres, though whether the cameo was truly necessary is another debate.

The screenplay is where 'Alpha' begins to stumble. Characters constantly describe what the Alpha program does instead of letting the audience join the dot.

People talk to themselves, announce their plans and spell out emotions that should have been conveyed visually.

The storytelling moves too quickly where it needs to slow down. Some major character development happens inside songs, making the family conflict feel rushed. The emotional bond between the sisters, which should have been the heart of the film, never develops with enough depth.

The plot twist is quite effective, I went in without watching the trailer, and it genuinely caught me off guard but the reveal didn't have the impact it deserved.

What makes ‘Alpha’ refreshing is its willingness to let two women lead a full-fledged action spectacle without forcing an unnecessary romantic subplot.

Watching Alia and Sharvari ride bikes, fire weapons and take on villains gives the film an identity that feels different within the YRF Spy Universe. The background score complements these moments well, adding energy.

At the same time, the movie struggles to balance everything it wants to be. It tries to be a family drama, patriotic spy thriller, superhero origin story and franchise-building, but never fully takes up any one of them.

Perhaps that's the best way to describe ‘Alpha’. It isn't the comeback the Spy Universe desperately needed, but it's far from the disaster some have made it out to be.

It's an entertaining action film with a fresh central duo and enough well-executed action to justify a trip to the cinema. A solid one-time watch.

Rating: 3/5