'WAR' Review: Hrithik Roshan treats Tiger Shroff as collateral damage

Film: WAR
  
Critic's Rating: 3/5

Cast: Hrithik Roshan; Tiger Shroff; Vaani Kapoor

Director: Siddharth Anand
  
Written By: Abbas Tyrewala 
 
Music: Sanchit Balhara; Ankit Balhara; Vishal–Shekhar  

Duration: 2 hours 32 minutes

Story:

Khalid played by Tiger Shroff is assigned to find and eliminate his mentor and senior agent Kabir played by Hrithik Roshan, now gone rogue. The will brings them together in death-defying situations until one has to win over the other.

Review:

Directed by Siddharth Anand, WAR at first look (trailer) seemed like a new version of Bang Bang but unlike the 2014 remake, this one actually has something more to offer. On the verge of becoming a Dhoom sequel, WAR has the premise of a Rouge agent set out to save the country. 

WAR starts with a Kabir aka Hrithik Roshan taking an aim at his target while his senior officer sits in his home office looking at Kabir's feed. However, within five minutes the story takes a twist when Kabir who is supposed to be miles away shoots at his senior from across the street. Declared rouge Kabir's team has been set out to hunt and kill him while his most loyal student Khalid played by Tiger Shroff, wants to figure out the reason behind Kabir's attacks. The story then follows the two as they play a cat and mouse chase around the world. 

What Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff have to offer is themselves and the technological marvel of new-age cinema. The cinematography when either of the lead is on screen feels like one could see every inch of their muscle move but that kind of clarity also enhances the flaws. The budget of the leads and rest of the cast seemed to have a major difference. Some of the indoor and outdoor scenes were shot on sets and using a green screen which is quite visible especially when the on-location scenes stand out so well. They either feel too isolated or out of place.

The big action scenes, on the other hand, are outdone some of which can be seen in the trailer. Throughout the film, we have Tiger and Hrithik travel places, with several flashbacks also used to justify their actions. As an audience, we are presented with very little information in terms of timelines and places. With Kabir killing Khalid's father some 20 years ago, it still looks as if they have a 20 something age difference, which is highly impossible given the flashbacks and their military stature. 

Hrithik earlier has been seen playing such macho roles, while his acting never falters the slow patchy script brings it down. Tiger Shroff shows an improvement as an actor especially in the last five minutes of the film, at times he is treated as a civilian asset instead of the lead but he keeps up with Hrithik's presence. Vaani Kapoor essentially doesn't have much of screen time and is easily forgotten after the first half of the film. The screenplay which is supposed to have these big twists and reveal moments grows repetitive. The final twist though surprising undoes every that happened since the start of the film. Dialogues like 'Target acquired' when the target has only been spotted make into the final cut.

The saving grace of this film is the action sequences, some feel unreasonable but are widely accepted in the commercial cinema, and hell if the world can do it so can we. We have people flying out planes, riding cars out of ships and fight like superman. The background score is what pushes the film and gives it the much need jolt. 

Overall we have a hollow script with little emotions, a big budget and a team that has something to prove. WAR seems more like a Hrithik Roshan and YRF come back than anything else. 

Verdict: WAR seems to have just begun, here's to hoping for a better future without a sequel.