War 2 review: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR go rogue, plot goes missing in action!

Summary:

• Strong star power and stylish action sequences fail to compensate for a weak, illogical plot and predictable twists.

• Overuse of poor VFX, messy flashbacks, and underdeveloped characters dilute the impact.

• Promised high-stakes Hrithik–NTR showdown ends up as noisy spectacle with little emotional or narrative payoff.

War 2 story:

Agent Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) has become India's most formidable enemy long after he turned rogue. But as he disappears farther into the shadows, the country sends out its deadliest weapon—Special Units Officer Vikram (Jr NTR)—an assiduously trained assassin whose abilities are equal to Kabir's. Driven by an unyielding purpose and haunted by his traumas, Vikram will do everything it takes to eliminate Kabir, including taking the gun himself. The next chapter is a brutal showdown, pitting cat against rottweiler, that crosses oceans, breaks bonds, and makes it difficult to tell who is good and who is evil. The stakes are sky-high, the options are limited, and the cost... is excruciating in a world where treachery and blood are common.

War 2 review:

When an entry scene features a roaring sound in the background, it is clear that the filmmakers are making a strong effort to capture the audience's attention in a blatant manner. Well, yes, I am talking about Jr NTR's introduction sequence, where it constantly reminds you of RRR. However, in this scene, he is neither fighting a tiger nor eventually taming one. He goes bare-bodied, without ammo, and hangs onto a plane to enter the territory of Somali pirates, and acts as a one-man army, slashing them with remarkable ease. This moment marks the start of the logic-defying aspect of War 2, which serves as both the beginning and the entirety of the movie.

The film begins in Japan, where we previously saw Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) during the post-credit scene of Tiger 3 (2023). Interestingly, both stars execute their introductory action set pieces well, leaving a subtle yet impressive impression. However, those are the only high points of the film, and, to be honest, they fail to maintain momentum.

ALSO READ: War 2 OTT partner revealed! Where to watch Hrithik Roshan, Jr NTR, and Kiara Advani's film after theatrical run

War (2019) had kept you hooked with the way it shaped up, although it took the age-old, utter nonsense angle of plastic surgeries to pit Hrithik's Kabir against Tiger Shroff's Khalid. However, the film excelled in its entertainment value and effectively managed the audience's attention.

War 2 is so juvenile and unserious about its plot that it doesn't even try to sell the film with its obnoxious treatment. Kabir takes the blame for a major character's death in what begins as a typical revenge story, and the film should have maintained until the end that he went rogue. However, this was done only to shoehorn in the so-called much-awaited Janaab-e-Aali, a track that fails even as background music. The song's timing was so forced that it felt like the subplot was created just for it, not for the film's effect.

There are so many such moments in the film where you end up scratching your head and asking, "Why? How?" One of the most glaring mistakes in the film is its heavy reliance on VFX, which could have been easily fixed. War 2 features a flashback sequence that transports us to 1999. Sure, why not?! But at least don't show the under-construction skyscrapers of Mumbai, which didn't exist or weren't even in the plan back then. Additionally, the film features modern Mumbai local trains in the background, although only six- or nine-car trains operated in 1999. I can't even...

The flashbacks are a mess—a "15 years ago" leap where everyone looks exactly the same, and the film assumes the audience won’t notice. Well, that's when the Aavan Jaavan song is positioned where you see no difference between then and now in Hrithik and Kiara Advani.

The screenplay by Sridhar Raghavan leans on juvenile missions and painfully predictable turns. There’s a moment of sheer narrative absurdity every few minutes—at times, stupidity peaks so high you wonder if it’s deliberate.

Kiara's character suffers the most. She’s introduced with intent—apparently out to kill because it's a revenge moment for her against Kabir. But her absence for a large chunk of the film makes her presence feel like an afterthought. She’s conveniently brought back only for yet another flashback detour.

For Hrithik and NTR, War 2 is more about facing each other and fighting each other in such a way that they are confused about whether to kill each other or not. The motives of both characters are so ambiguous that the more you try to make sense of them, the more the film reveals that you are overthinking an illogical story.

There's one moment which I can't wrap my head around. In a sequence, after globetrotting, Kabir and Vikram touch down in Abu Dhabi in a boat. And amid a fight sequence, NTR's character drives his boat to Yas Marina Circuit, where an F1 race is going on. I just burst out laughing looking at how it just got created and to prove what?!

The spy thrillers from YRF began on the highest note with Ek Tha Tiger, (2012) when there wasn't even a universe planned. Then came the sequel Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), which created a downward drift but is still hanging in the loose. Then came War, which was an out-and-out popcorn entertainer, so to speak. With Pathaan (2023), we were brought to a familiar world yet there was some uniqueness that made us attached to it with heavy dialogues and also the villain with a perfect backstory for making him a ruthless mercenary.

But in just a few months, the thread that was hanging loosely with Tiger 3 (2023) crumbled and fell to the ground with the loudest noise, so it easily became the weakest spy film in the universe. Oh, well, the competition is here with War 2. You still thought the trailer was weak, but maybe they are hiding too much to make the film spicier. Lo and behold! You will find nothing that will leave you astonished.

You know there is a moment always before the big reveal where sometimes the film gives us a chance to do the guesswork. War 2 gives ample of them and I should tell you, you will pass with flying colours and how!

NTR's character gets the most entry sequences in slow motion, and every time he does, all you can give it is a death stare because it just shows the towering personality of the actor but nothing with the sequence. His character Vikram is portrayed as weak, with a stagnant arc that elicits pity rather than any strong feelings for or against him. He is a full-grown man, but when examined closely, he behaves like a teenager who refuses to acknowledge the need to eventually change his way of thinking.

On the other hand, Hrithik does what he does and there's no development there. The actor, although he rarely gives a bad performance, maintains a similar trait here. But even though it's him mounting the well and reaching its aiming point—like the wolf walking beside him in the opening sequence—the screenplay refuses to do so.

Ayan Mukerji has directed War 2, which has so many firsts for the filmmaker. This is his first non-Ranbir Kapoor film, his first franchise, and his first time working with Yash Raj Films. After directing Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), a film that remains controversial, one would expect Mukerji to deliver something of similar calibre next. However, with War 2, all Mukerji could do was helm something that was given to him and try to add his touch. High-level emotions have been his forte, but here even the emotions are so weak that two male actors are shedding tears, and you feel nothing— definitely not empathy.

When it comes to dialogues, I think the film doesn't go haywire there, just like its screenplay. Abbas Tyrewala maintains the same level of quality in this film as he did with Pathaan, but there is hardly anything memorable or with recall value.

Well, War 2 doesn’t just miss the target—it forgets why it picked up the gun in the first place. And all I can say is – I miss Jim!

War 2 verdict:

War 2 loads its missile with style, swagger, and star power but forgets to aim before firing. What should have been a high-octane clash of titans between Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, turns into a game of toy soldiers—lots of noise, little impact.

FAQs:

Q: Is War 2 connected to YRF Spy Universe?

A: Yes. It continues the YRF Spy Universe storyline, picking up after Tiger 3 and featuring familiar espionage tropes—but without the freshness of earlier entries.

Q: Is War 2 directed by Ayan Mukerji?

A: Yes. It’s Ayan Mukerji’s first franchise film and first collaboration with YRF. However, his usual flair for emotions feels absent here.

Q: How long is War 2?

A: The film runs for approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, though the pacing makes it feel longer.