If you’re looking for understated character development, moving emotional drama, or the laws of physics, director Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 might not be for you. But if you want explosions, dancing, biceps, and a fun time at the movie theater, Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR have got you covered. 

Roshan returns as Kabir, a rogue agent operating in the shadows in an effort to infiltrate an evil, scheming collective of powerful leaders. He’s sacrificing everything—including his love for Kavya (Kiara Advani)—to save his country, but he’s being pursued by relentless Special Agent Vikram, played by N.T. Rama Rao Jr. 

Because Kabir is stoic and broken as a person, there aren’t a lot of places to have fun with that character. Roshan does a great job of conveying the weight of Kabir’s duty and responsibility. There’s an emotional moment that locks in with a tight close-up, and he really tells us a story with his eyes.

NTR gives us a dynamic and fun performance that is actually much better than the single expression he makes throughout the trailer. He’s clearly having a blast villaining out here and his performance was the highlight of the whole movie for me. 

There’s not much for Advani to do beyond a few fight scenes and emotional moments, but that’s pretty much expected in these testosterone-filled action movies. 

Some very wonky CG in the opening action sequence had me worried, but the quality picks up a bit later, and there’s a ridiculously over-the-top action sequence in Spain that was a lot of fun.

Similarly, the music was a bit of a letdown for me. When we finally see two of India’s best dancers groove together on screen, the song isn’t particularly memorable. I didn’t find myself humming the melody afterward like I usually do with YRF Spy Universe movies.

So I don’t know that any YRF Spy movie will ever hit that high of Pathaan, but War 2 is certainly a good course correction after Tiger 3 and it gives audiences the kind of over-the-top action cinema Martin Scorsese was talking about when he called Marvel movies theme park rides—but in a complimentary way.