We have a very positive image about the blockbuster 2013 film ‘Commando’ and automatically we expect the sequel to be at par. Directed by Deven Bhojani, ‘Commando 2’ is about the black money trial and demonetization. A team of four members is hand-picked by the Home Minister Leela (Shefali Shah) including the politician-friendly police officer ACP Bakhtawar (Freddy Daruwala) who leads the group, a brand-lover encounter specialist Bhavna Reddy (Adah Sharma), a hacker Zafar Hussain, and the last minute entry ex-commando Captain Karanveer Singh Dogra (Vidyut Jammwal). The team has to bring back the black money racketeer Vicky Chaddha. Eventually, this challenging syndicate becomes a dangerous game of life and death. If you are a fan of Vidyut Jammwal and don’t care about the plot as such, you will enjoy the film. But, if you’re looking for some emotions, a new thrill or an intriguing story, well, the movie lacks it somewhere for sure. It is overstretched and boring at some point. The film was completely relying on Vidyut Jammwal, but no movie can run only on the basis of one actor (apart from the ‘Khans’ of course).

When the makers of 2013 film Commando decided to return with a sequel, it seemed like a good idea simply because the audience hadn’t forgotten the sheer intensity of the action scenes. In addition to this, Vidyut Jammwal was coming back as Commando Karanveer Singh Dogra. He had impressed with his Kalaripayattu-inspired combat skills in the original. So, it was quite natural to expect more from him. The shooting locations were also changed from Punjab to Thailand in order to give it a more international feel, unfortunately, nothing could replace a badly planned screenplay. Well, this is how Commando 2 was intentioned. Unfortunately, the film is not even remotely close to it. At the most, it can be said to be a bumpy ride with occasional action outbursts from Jammwal. Action scenes look forced in a story that takes the audience for granted. Illogical twists are thrown at you every 10 minutes, which eventually end up in a fight between the same people you saw in the last scene. It seems they first planned the action scenes and then tried to put a ring around it. Sadly the action alone can’t suffice for the lack of a narrative structure. Apart from Jammwal, only Adah Sharma is notice-worthy as a Gucci loving, trigger happy cop from Hyderabad. Commando 2 lacks heart and is all muscles. If may not even quench your thirst for some adrenaline-pumping stunts.

The sequel of Commando, called Commando 2: The Black Money Trail, gives Vidyut Jammwal large tracts of the film to flex his awe-inspiring biceps, and other equally spectacular muscles, in the service of his ‘desh’. He’s also given a bunch of unlikely companions, in the shape of the most shapely Esha Gupta, the played-for-laughs Adah Sharma, the mandatory computer geek, and the lean mean cop with dubious loyalty (Freddy Daruwala). What is missing is a plot, muscular enough to service a racy, pacy actioner. Commando 2 takes us to global hotspots in its tracking of the ‘kaala-dhan’ and the well-dressed criminals who handle the cash, but is hampered by a lack of freshness. Action sequences bloated by loud background music? This is really where Bollywood loses the game: we do not need, repeat after me, swelling orchestral sounds to help us watch cars smashing, guns blasting, bad guys facing off the good ‘uns. The jaw-droppingly agile Jammwal does what is required, but he needs better stunts. The other men are good with their fists too, but why have such lame ‘firangi’ baddies? As for the ladies, Gupta is made to narrow her eyes all the time, and Sharma who starts off quite funny as a shopaholic ditsy cop, becomes repetitive. And nothing can be worse for an out-and-out-actioner than to be shackled by sarkaari slogans.

Vidyut Jammwal is a solid action star and his stunts are the only reason you manage to sit through this never-ending tale of 'catch-Vicky Chadda-if-you-can'. The opening scene is spectacular. Sadly, the cat and mouse game between the cops and the criminal is not one bit exciting as the story pretends to be more intelligent than it is. Director Deven Bhojani tries too hard to evoke intrigue but the absurd script leaves no room for thrill. The multiple illogical twists leave you frustrated and in no mood to connect the dots and decode the mystery. Also, the director seems to be a diehard fan of Mission Impossible series and American superhero films as various scenes remind you of the original versions. The blaring 'Commando commando' background during the action scenes is strikingly outdated. Overstretched and uninspiring, this film is reminiscent of a poor man's Abbas Mustan film. Even decent action cannot salvage this dreary supposed crime thriller.