Sitting down for an Alpha review, the first thing that strikes you is the gap between the hype around this YRF spy universe entry and what actually unfolds on screen. Weighed down by heavy melodrama and a messy plot, the film stumbles badly, but amid the chaos actress Sharvari Wagh manages to grab attention with a strong screen presence. Built around the Kargil war, a mysterious 'Alpha serum' and a cunning Pakistani agent, this loosely written script leaves Alia Bhatt's action avatar looking out of place, while Sharvari does everything she can with her portions to hold the film together.
What Alpha's story is about
The film opens during the 1999 Kargil war. After devastating losses on a brutal battlefield, only two officers, played by Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, survive. Following this bloody battle, Bobby Deol's character conceives a bold plan to create super-soldiers for national security, called the 'Alpha Soldier' project. It involves developing a special 'Alpha serum' capable of giving soldiers unlimited power. Anil Kapoor's character joins him in this ambitious project. The story takes a turn when Anil Kapoor secretly administers the serum to his ailing wife, only for it to backfire and cause her death. Once this betrayal comes to light, things spiral so badly that Bobby Deol takes away one of Anil Kapoor's daughters. Years later, the main plot shifts to revenge, patriotism and family conflict. Through this stretch, Alia Bhatt's character has Anil Kapoor as her primary target. A major twist arrives when it's revealed that Pakistan had planted a cunning agent named 'Fateh' inside the Indian Army, who infiltrates the system and becomes 'Alpha' himself. Anil Kapoor's second daughter, played by Sharvari Wagh, also gets pulled into this tangled web. Overall, the story ends up delivering an odd family drama dressed up in the language of patriotism.
Acting is where the film disappoints most
Alpha lets audiences down most on the acting front. There's no denying that Alia Bhatt is one of Indian cinema's finest and most celebrated actresses, but she looks completely miscast in this action heavy role. Her work in serious films like Raazi was outstanding, but here she struggles to match the intensity of the heavy action sequences. In several scenes she comes across as overacting with odd expressions, which feels beneath an actress of her calibre. Meanwhile, social media chatter before the release had already predicted that Sharvari Wagh would outshine Alia Bhatt in this film, and that is more or less what happens. Sharvari got fewer action sequences, but she fits comfortably into whatever screen time she was given. When it comes to Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol brings a strong, commanding screen presence as the villain, but the Haryanvi accent given to his character completely undercuts it, and it visibly irritates the audience in theatres. Anil Kapoor, on the other hand, holds his own reasonably well in his smaller role.
Direction fails to live up to the spy universe tag
In the name of the spy universe, director Shiv Rawail delivers little beyond lavish locations and a big budget. The direction is loud and often confusing. It feels like the makers were heavily inspired by the recent blockbuster success of Dhurandhar and its Pakistan-centric concept, in which a character named Hamza travels to Pakistan to foil the enemy's plans. But the director neither manages to recreate that kind of gripping thrill nor protects the spy universe's reputation. What's left on screen are actors striking stylish poses without any real vision holding it together.
Technically grand, but hollow underneath
Technically, Alpha stands out only because of its scale. The cinematography is crisp and impressive. Exotic locations, heavy snowfall across the mountains, and the early Kargil war sequences have all been shot on a large canvas. But when the story itself is hollow, even the most beautiful visuals cannot save the audience from boredom.
Average music, Hrithik Roshan's cameo is the standout moment
The film's music is average at best. The mix of Punjabi songs and the loud battle sounds in the background of action sequences works in a few places, but mostly turns into a headache. The film's strongest and most effective moment is Hrithik Roshan's cameo. When he appears on screen as Kabir, his cult character from War, the theatre erupts in applause. Even so, this cameo turns out to be underwhelming. Anyone expecting a cameo on the scale of Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan appearance in Tiger 3 will walk away disappointed.
Too many logical gaps in the plot
The film's story is riddled with logical gaps that leave audiences feeling cheated. It's hard to believe how easily a Pakistani agent infiltrates the Indian Army and simply becomes 'Alpha'. A spy thriller demands realistic action, but here the lead actress spends most of her time posing and caught up in melodrama. Audiences never manage to emotionally connect with any of the characters, which makes the patriotism angle feel dull and boring.
Verdict: just 1.5 out of 5 stars
Analysed fairly, Yash Raj Films' Alpha turns out to be the weakest and sloppiest entry in the spy universe so far. Apart from its luxurious locations and Hrithik Roshan's strong cameo, there's little else worth watching in the film. Aditya Chopra's experiment of casting Alia Bhatt in a tough spy action movie appears to have backfired at the box office. This film gets 1.5 out of 5 stars.
