War 2 (2025) & Coolie (2025) A Double Disappointment | A Battle of mids | War2 Review | Coolie Review

War 2 (2025) & Coolie (2025)

A Double Disappointment

War 2

Hollow. Flashy. Forgettable.

YRF aimed for an epic spy saga but forgot the story somewhere between the bad VFX and the hype and everything else just crumbles.

War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji, is the latest film in YRF’s Spy Universe and the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster War. It stars Hrithik Roshan as Kabir and Jr. NTR in his Bollywood debut, alongside Kiara Advani, Anil Kapoor, and Ashutosh Rana. The film promised a massive clash between Hrithik and NTR, globe-trotting action, and universe-level storytelling. Sadly, what we get is a hollow, flashy, and forgettable movie.

The story of Kabir going rogue and Major Vikram being brought in to stop him had potential, but the writing is weak and predictable. Twists can be seen from miles away, flashbacks slow down the pace, and subplots feel half-baked. The film talks about building a universe but undercuts it by constantly repeating that “only Vikram can stop Kabir,” even though big characters like Tiger and Pathaan exist in the same world.

Ayan Mukerji’s direction shines in a few moments, especially the Hrithik vs NTR scenes and some large-scale action pieces, but overall, the film is bloated and inconsistent. The VFX is another major disappointment, with many scenes looking like cheap video game cutscenes instead of a high-budget spectacle. Music is forgettable, pacing is uneven, and the emotional depth is missing.

Performances are the saving grace. Hrithik Roshan brings charisma and intensity, NTR makes a solid debut with strong action presence, and Anil Kapoor delivers in his limited role. But weak writing wastes both Kiara Advani and Nagarjuna, while Ashutosh Rana is underused.

In short, War 2 had all the elements of a blockbuster but collapses under poor execution. It entertains in flashes, but as a whole, it feels like a step backward for the Spy Universe.

War 2 isn’t a disaster, but it’s a huge disappointment.

High budget.

Big stars.

But ultimately… forgettable.

Rating: 2/5

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Coolie

Stylish, nostalgic… but messy.

That’s basically Coolie..

Lokesh wanted this to be a big Rajinikanth celebration—nostalgia, swag, fan-service, all of it. It starts strong but collapses in the second half. 

Coolie, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, is Rajinikanth’s grand outing for his 50 years in cinema. It promised to be a stylish, mass entertainer with callbacks to Thalaivar’s legendary films like Baasha and Annamalai. With Rajini playing Devaraj “Deva,” Nagarjuna as the villain Simon, and Anirudh Ravichander on music, expectations were sky high. Unfortunately, like War 2, this film too struggles with weak writing and overindulgence.

The story mixes themes of labor rights, corruption, and revenge, with Deva fighting a smuggling syndicate after the death of his friend. The first half is engaging, with style, energy, and nostalgia, but the second half becomes overstuffed with fillers, logic gaps, and dragged-out flashbacks. Instead of a tight story, the film feels more like a fan-service tribute.

Rajinikanth still carries the film with his charisma, and the de-aged sequences are fun for fans. Nagarjuna looks stylish but is underwritten, and Shruti Haasan gets almost nothing meaningful to do. The surprise strength is Soubin Shahir as Dayal, who is menacing and memorable.

Technically, the movie is flashy, Lokesh’s direction is stylish, Anbariv’s action is fun, and Anirudh’s BGM is the lifeline of the film. But the runtime is overlong, CGI is patchy, and misplaced songs break the flow.

Coolie works as a festival movie for Rajini fans who want whistles and celebrations. But for casual viewers, the messy writing and uneven execution make it disappointing.

Coolie isn’t a bad movie, it’s just a messy one. Fans will cheer, whistle, celebrate Rajini. But if you want a coherent, emotional, well-written film… this one will test your patience.

High on swag. High on music.

Low on story.

Rating: 2.5/5

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War 2 vs Coolie – Comparison

Both War 2 and Coolie were marketed as huge event movies. The trailers, teasers, and promotions made them look like guaranteed blockbusters. War 2’s trailers, however, felt underwhelming from the start, while Coolie’s teasers gave the vibe of a sure-shot mass entertainer. But when the films actually released, both ended up disappointing in different ways.

War 2 fails because of lazy writing, bad CGI, and poor universe-building. It tried to be a spy thriller but felt like a cheap copy of Hollywood movies with no soul. Coolie fails because Lokesh focused too much on style, nostalgia, and star worship, and forgot to give a strong and consistent story.

Both movies suffer from bloated runtimes, wasted talent, and misplaced songs. The common problem is that they were promoted as massive cinematic experiences, but in reality, both turned out to be flashy shells without real depth.

Final Verdict

Neither War 2 nor Coolie is worth watching if you are looking for good cinema. Both films had massive potential but collapsed under weak writing and inconsistent execution. They prove that hype, trailers, and star power alone cannot save a film.

War 2 is a hollow spy thriller that goes nowhere, and Coolie is a stylish but shallow celebration piece. For fans, they may offer some moments, but for everyone else, both movies are highly disappointing.

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