War 2 Review: No substance in YRF’s weakest spy outing yet

Dropping into theatres just ahead of Independence Day with the promise of high-octane thrills, ‘War 2’, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan alongside Jr NTR, aims for patriotic fervour but misses the mark entirely.

A sequel to the 2019 blockbuster ‘War’, it sees Hrithik return as R&AW agent Kabir on a globe-trotting mission packed with postcard-perfect locations and slickly choreographed action.

Yet beneath the sheen lies a hollow narrative, a tedious, uninspired continuation that fails to match the adrenaline of its predecessor, ultimately ranking as the weakest entry in YRF’s much-hyped Spy Universe, trailing even the misfires of the ‘Tiger’ series and ‘Pathaan’.

A mission that shouts ‘India First’ but delivers nothing at its core

The film opens with a shocking twist; R&AW’s star agent Kabir (Hrithik) seemingly turns traitor, aligning himself with the elusive ‘Kali’, a shadowy mastermind bent on bringing India to its knees. Kali commands a secretive international council made up of influential figures from Bangladesh, Russia, China, Pakistan, Myanmar, and even India. But Kabir’s betrayal is just a façade, part of the most perilous mission of his life.

To prove his loyalty to Kali’s cause, the council orders Kabir to assassinate his own mentor and father figure, Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana). In a gut-wrenching moment, Luthra himself urges Kabir to pull the trigger, “India first,” he says , ensuring Kabir’s permanent exile from R&AW. The damning footage of the point-blank killing is leaked to the agency, marking Kabir a fugitive.

Gaining entry into Kali’s inner circle, Kabir’s next assignment is to eliminate a fiercely patriotic politician, Vilasrao Sarang (Varun Badola). Meanwhile, the government replaces the slain Luthra with the shrewd and unpredictable Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor) as the new R&AW chief.

Determined to hunt Kabir down, Vikrant assembles a team that includes Luthra’s daughter, Wing Commander Kavya (Kiara Advani), and a formidable Indian Army officer, Vikram (Jr NTR).

But the mission takes an emotional turn when Kabir discovers that Vikram is actually his childhood best friend, Raghu. What begins as a battle of patriot versus traitors spirals into a tangled tale of revenge, loyalty, and betrayal, where a devoted agent risks everything to protect his nation, a grieving daughter seeks justice, and a friend is forced to take aim at his own.

Scenic vistas and slick punches — the few sparks in an otherwise dim spectacle

With a runtime of nearly 2 hours and 50 minutes, expectations for War 2 should be kept in check. Beyond its globe-spanning scenic backdrops, some well-executed action choreography, and slick camerawork, little else truly lands in this underwhelming sequel.

Visually, though, the film is a treat, sweeping across the beauty of Italy, Spain, the UAE, and, of course, India. The cinematography captures these landscapes with flair, particularly during the action set pieces, where clever tracking shots pull the audience right into the heart of the chase.

The action, staged across land, sea, and air, is another element that occasionally tips the balance in the film’s favour, delivering a few bursts of adrenaline in an otherwise tedious narrative.

A sequel with far more misses than hits

The storyline of War 2 is predictable to a fault — you can foresee every twist, turn, and dramatic beat from the very first frame. This speaks volumes about the lazy writing, as if the makers believe they can serve up any half-baked plot and the audience will lap it up. The character arcs are equally underwhelming, constantly reminding you how much tighter and more engaging its predecessor was.

What makes matters worse is the sheer underutilisation of a stellar cast. Jr NTR is relegated to the shadows of Hrithik’s towering presence, while Kiara gets barely more than a handful of scenes. Her sole action sequence with Hrithik appears to rely on a body double, leaving her role reduced to little more than a glamour prop and no, it’s not just about the unnecessary bikini shot.

Even the music and dance choreography, which were highlights of the first film, fall flat here. There’s nothing remotely as memorable as ‘Ghungroo’ or ‘Jai Jai Shivshankar’, and if you’re a fan of Hrithik’s signature dance moves, prepare for disappointment — the steps here lack impact, energy, and staying power.

‘War 2’ is all shine, no soul

‘War 2’ stands as a textbook case of an unnecessary, unwanted sequel — the kind that dilutes rather than enriches a franchise. Worse still, it’s only a stepping stone to yet another instalment, Alpha, this time starring Bobby Deol.

The real disappointment, however, lies in Ayan’s trajectory as a filmmaker. After back-to-back gems like ‘Wake Up Sid’ and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, his last two directorial outings—‘Brahmastra’ and now ‘War 2’—have been high-profile misfires, leaving audiences longing for the sharp, heartfelt storyteller he once was.

All things considered, skipping ‘War 2’ in theatres might be the wiser choice. The Indian spy genre has far stronger, more gripping tales to offer than this hollow, glossy detour.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars