Director: Krish Jagarlamudi, A. M. Jyothi Krishna
Starring: Pawan Kalyan, Niddhi Agerwal, Bobby Deol
Genre: Action / Adventure
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)

A thunderous invocation of history, dharma, and resistance, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is a film that doesn’t just entertain — it inspires. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and A. M. Jyothi Krishna, the epic historical action film follows a rebellious thief who finds his calling not in crime, but in the cosmic rhythm of Sanātana Dharma.

Let’s address the obvious — the visual effects are a letdown. Despite its grand ambitions, the film’s graphics fall short of modern cinematic expectations, often feeling outdated and mismatched to the epic scope. For a film of this thematic and narrative depth, the CG limitations become a distracting flaw. It’s a recurring issue in Pawan Kalyan’s films, where the strength of his message is often undercut by lackluster technical execution.

But make no mistake — Hari Hara Veera Mallu triumphs where it truly matters: its soul. Kalyan, widely revered as the “Power Star,” delivers a commanding performance as Veera Mallu, a character who evolves from thief to dharmic warrior. His presence carries both gravitas and grace, anchoring the film with purpose and patriotic fervor. At its core, this is a cinematic call to cultural awakening — a reminder for Indians to reconnect with their roots and rekindle the flame of Sanātana Dharma.

Niddhi Agerwal brings both tenderness and intensity to her role, providing emotional texture to a film driven heavily by ideology and action. Her chemistry with Kalyan is sincere and grounding, and her performance serves as a reminder that even warriors carry the right to love. Agerwal’s confidence radiates onscreen, with eyes that pull you into her character’s vulnerability and strength.

Bobby Deol, portraying the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, is a casting choice that initially raises eyebrows but ultimately lands with impact. As a Sikh actor embodying one of history’s most divisive Islamic rulers, Deol infuses the role with brutality and gravitas. His portrayal is unnerving, precise, and deeply effective — the kind of villain performance that lingers.

The direction is focused and passionate, and the screenplay weaves historical fact with philosophical fire. While the technical shortcomings are impossible to ignore, the story’s message is undeniable: Hari Hara Veera Mallu is less a film and more a cultural invocation. It’s a reminder of who we were — and who we still can be.

Final Verdict:
Flawed in execution but powerful in message, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is an important cultural artifact disguised as an action film. It’s a must-watch for those seeking meaning beyond the spectacle — and a call to all Indians to remember, revive, and rise.

DreamWorks has done it again — and then some. With The Bad Guys 2, the studio delivers not just a sequel, but a full-blown animated heist spectacular that’s bigger, bolder, and more emotionally resonant than its already-excellent predecessor. It’s the kind of film that reminds you why animation, when done right, can outpace even the best live-action blockbusters in energy, charm, and heart.

Set after the events of the first film, The Bad Guys 2 finds our beloved crew of reformed animal outlaws still struggling to walk the straight-and-narrow — until a globe-trotting, high-stakes heist yanks them back into the shadows. But this time, they’re not the only ones playing the game. Enter: The Bad Girls, a dangerously sharp trio of new criminals with skills to match and secrets to spare.

Sam Rockwell continues to lead the charge as Mr. Wolf, whose chaotic charisma is still off the charts. Marc Maron’s Mr. Snake gets some of the best writing in the film, with an arc that feels surprisingly vulnerable and earned. Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina bring their signature fire, each landing big moments and laugh-out-loud lines. But what really impresses is how seamlessly the new players fit into this kinetic ecosystem.

Danielle Brooks as Kitty Kat — a razor-smart snow leopard with a hidden agenda — is a standout, giving Mr. Wolf a true foil. Maria Bakalova’s brilliant wild boar engineer, Pigtail, and Natasha Lyonne’s deadpan raven, Doom, round out the Bad Girls with energy and unpredictability. These aren’t gimmicky new characters; they add tension, dimension, and real stakes to the story.

Visually, The Bad Guys 2 is a knockout. Co-directed by Pierre Perifel and JP Sans, the film’s animation style is even sharper than the first — a jaw-dropping mix of comic book texture, neon-noir color, and dynamic cinematography that feels like Into the Spider-Verse met Ocean’s Eleven in a street race. DreamWorks is clearly operating with swagger here. It’s stylish, but never showy for the sake of it. Every frame serves story and character.

But where The Bad Guys 2 really levels up is in its writing. The humor is genuinely smart — fast, witty, and layered. The jokes land for kids and adults alike, never talking down to either. And most importantly, the film’s heart is intact. It never forgets what made the original great: not just cool heists and sharp dialogue, but the emotional core underneath. Themes of trust, redemption, and self-worth are explored with sincerity and nuance.

This is a movie that understands its audience. It respects them. And it delivers a story that doesn’t just entertain — it resonates.

Final Verdict:
🐺🐍🕷🦈🐟 (8/10)
The Bad Guys 2 is a stylish, smart, and emotionally grounded sequel that proves DreamWorks is not just back — they’re in their prime. If this is what the future of animated franchises looks like, count me all the way in.

Nearly 30 years after Happy Gilmore first turned the golf world upside down with hockey swings and hot tempers, Netflix’s Happy Gilmore 2 brings Adam Sandler back to the fairway. Directed by Kyle Newacheck (Workaholics) and co-written by Tim Herlihy and Sandler himself, the long-awaited sequel swings big on nostalgia, cameos, and chaos—but lands squarely in the sandtrap of trying to do too much.

Set in 2025, the film finds Happy Gilmore as a down-and-out widower and recovering alcoholic, long removed from his legendary days on the PGA Tour. When his daughter earns a spot at a prestigious overseas ballet school—and the tuition proves way out of reach—Happy returns to professional golf in a last-ditch effort to fund her dream. It’s a setup that gives the movie emotional potential, but the heartfelt moments are often upstaged by its excessive star-studded distractions.

Sandler steps comfortably back into Happy’s beat-up golf shoes, balancing the trademark rage-fueled comedy with a little more emotional depth this time around. Julie Bowen returns as Virginia, offering a grounding presence in Happy’s chaotic world, and Christopher McDonald once again shines as the legendary villain Shooter McGavin, now a smug golf commentator who still holds a grudge (and a wicked one-liner).

The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Benny Safdie, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny), and Ben Stiller, reprising his role as the nightmare nursing home orderly but in a fun new role. Real-life golf icon John Daly and wrestling star Maxwell Jacob Friedman add some surprising comedic moments, while Sunny Sandler delivers a charming performance as Happy’s daughter.

But here’s the drawback: the cameos are relentless. From sports legends to streaming stars to viral celebrities, the film overloads the viewer with surprise appearances that, while fun in the moment, often derail the flow of the story. It becomes more of a “who’s next?” guessing game than a cohesive film.

Kyle Newacheck keeps the energy high and the jokes rapid-fire, with a few standout sequences that truly hit the comedic sweet spot—most notably a night golf showdown and a callback to The Price is Right that had the crowd cheering. Still, the movie struggles to recapture the absurd simplicity that made the 1996 original such a classic.

Ultimately, Happy Gilmore 2 is a mixed bag. It’s entertaining, nostalgic, and delivers enough laughs to satisfy longtime fans, but its overreliance on cameos and chaotic pacing keeps it from sinking the emotional putt it aims for.

Final Verdict:
⛳️⛳️⛳️ (6/10)
Happy Gilmore 2 gives fans a welcome return to one of Sandler’s most beloved characters, but it’s weighed down by too many distractions. Fun for a Friday night stream—but don’t expect a major championship.