Commando Review: Adah Sharma, Prem Parija fail to carry Vidyut Jammwal's action franchise

Adah Sharma and Prem Parija starrer Commando series was announced after the box office success of The Kerala Story. The actress and Vipul Amrutlal Shah reunited for the re-branded version of the film starring Vidyut Jammwal. While exciting to some, Commando is in no way rewarding in technical or storytelling aspects. 

3 things you need to know:

• Commando features Virat (Prem Parija) as the new protagonist. 
• Vipul Shah is the creator, producer and director of the series. 
• Despite the team’s best efforts, the series remains a disappointment.

Hot Take

Commando series is India-Pakistan conflict theme repackaged with a different storyline. It starts off in a lab in Pakistan where ISI Col Jaffer Hassan (Amit Sial) is developing a deadly pathogen with the help of scientists so he could release it in India. As many can guess, the story proceeds down a predictable line with cliche dialogues and characters that we have witnessed innumerable times.

(A still from Commando featuring Prem Parija and AdahSharma | Image: disneyplushotstar/Instagram)

Is Commando worth the hype?

Vidyut Jammwal began his acting journey as a larger-than-life commando in 2013 and established himself as a bonafide action star. While the first film focused on tensions with China, the sequel took place in Malaysia. The third film involved the protagonist’s venture to London and a pattern emerged in how these films would pan out. They would tackle different political setups with action going a notch above every time. Vidyut shouldered it well and turned it into a franchise that fans would wait for. However, Commando series fails to live up to the brand name.   

It has nothing new to offer. While it has a run-of-the-mill plot, there is nothing redeemable about the characters. Bhavana (Adah Sharma) and Virat (Prem Parija), the only two people we were supposed to be rooting for, have no vulnerability. So relatability is missing. 

(A still from Commando featuring Amil Sial as Pakistani army general | Image: disneyplushotstar/Instagram)

There is a scene where Virat goes on a killing spree and it’s made out to be a moment where the terrorists are shocked thinking, “Oh, he’s unhinged.” That has been the spirit of the Commando franchise. However, there is no point during the show where the characters are shown in a deeper light (with the exception of Amit Sial’s Jaffer Hassan). Acting, action, direction, cinematography, soundtrack – they are all rather unremarkable.

Amit’s devious act in the show has some merit, but the protagonists fail to live up to the high standards that Vidyut had set for the Commando franchise. Prem plays a confident character who has the goods to back it up. He gets the action right. But, he misses the mark by a mile when it comes to evocative scenes. Adah too is stern and delivers well in the action sequences but together they fail to lend any substance and depth to the show. It builds no stake and proceeds on a flat trajectory. 

Stream it or skip it?

Some performances in the show are adequate– like Shreya Chaudhary and Amit Sial. They bring some emotions to the rather one-toned series. However, the show fails to function on individual acts. Adah Sharma and Prem Parija’s chemistry is off, leaving their scenes without any impact.

(A poster for Commando featuring Prem Perija | Image: disneyplushotstar/Instagram)

The Bottomline

Shows like this are what one might call a ‘franchise killer’. While Vidyut had scored a critical hit with IB 71, which tows the nationalistic line with grace and subtlety. Commando is belligerent and unsubtle. With only four episodes in this rescue-action drama, Commando is still a drag. 

Rating: 1/5