War 2 Review : Spy thriller cliches drown out excellent scale

War 2 arrived at the cinemas on Thursday. Amid tight competition from Coolie, it did struggle to register decent openings. As the day passed, surprisingly, War 2 picked up. What is the movie like? Telugu Funda answers in this detailed review.

Telugu Funda’s reveal of the basic plot:

Agent Kabir (Hrithik Roshan), a master of deception, dons the mask of a turncoat, betraying his motherland to infiltrate the shadows of an international syndicate known as Kali a deadly alliance of powerbrokers from India’s bordering nations. To cement his cover, Kabir must make an unthinkable sacrifice: he takes down his mentor and father figure, Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh), branding himself as RAW’s most wanted outlaw. Enter Vikram (NTR), RAW’s relentless top operative, tasked with hunting Kabir down at any cost. As the chase intensifies, questions unravel: Can Vikram outsmart the elusive Kabir? Will Kabir dismantle Kali’s web of corruption? And what hidden bond ties these two agents together? The answers lie in a high-stakes game of loyalty, betrayal, and secrets.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Performances:

The Telugu audience are the least tribalistic in the country. So, they wouldn’t mind accepting the plain truth that Hrithik is the primary hero of War 2. His handsome looks have always stood all the more awesome in gorgeous locations. War 2 taps into this advantage. His performance in the emotional and action scenes, though, is regular.

Jr NTR is the secondary hero, not the film’s “glorified sidekick”. His haters tried to scandalize him as RRR’s side actor, and they are going to replay the same cassette this time. Truth to be told, he gets as many crucial lines as Hrithik. Just that his is a one-time YRF Spy Universe entry, while Hrithik has previously done War.

Kiara Advani is more talented than most of the star heroines we get to see in Telugu and Tamil films. If you are a fan of her bikini shots, by the way, those portions are not trimmed. Ashutosh Rana and Anil Kapoor are seen in consequential roles.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Technical Departments:

1. Benjamin Jasper’s cinematography is breathtaking.
2. The background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara is run-of-the-mill. Most musicians are not expected to be inventive in cinematic universes. Pritam’s songs are disappointing. Even Salam Anali is bad, musically.
3. Six action directors have worked on the various action sequences. They were extremely challenging to mount, and apparently the Hrithik-Tarak duo did sustain injuries. But they are mostly flat, especially if you have seen the Mission: Impossible and other Hollywood movies.

Telugu Funda’s take on the Merits:

In the age of relentless and high-octane action, War 2 has enriching drama here and there at the very least.

There are detailed conversations between officials and agents, etc. This is such an important dimension of storytelling that many filmmakers have forgotten. War 2 gets its agenda right in this regard.

That elaborate conversation between the two lead men on the ship is superb. Such a scene is possible only when you have a story, not just a set of gimmicks.

Demerits:

The flashback episode involving two children is dry. This creative deficit, to an extent, haunts the emotional bankruptcy that follows.

Too many elements are just spy thriller cliches you can predict from far away.

War 2 was billed as a proper Telugu movie, but it was a lie meant for promotional purposes. Except when Jr NTR is dominating the frames, the entire film feels like a dubbed one. Because it is.

The Kali track had so much potential and juice in it. It’s staged in an underwhelming manner.

Telugu Funda’s Verdict:

While the film excels in its conversational moments, its action sequences feel flat compared to Hollywood contemporaries, and the plot is bogged down by predictable spy thriller clichés. Despite its promotional push as a proper Telugu film, it feels like a dubbed experience. The film has its merits, particularly in its focus on detailed storytelling, but its underwhelming antagonist track and a weak flashback sequence prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Rating: 2.25

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