Gerard Butler is one of the few stars that feels like a throwback to the action movies of the 80s and 90s. He continues to pump out flick after flick with some being better than others, but all riding on Butler’s charisma and everyman action-star vibe. Whether he’s commanding a team of agents, protecting the president, saving the world from space, or dodging asteroids, there’s just something appealing about Gerry B that audiences, me included, love!

His newest Kandahar sees him as a CIA operative who after exposing a covert mission is forced to flee from relentless Afghan special forces with his translator at his side. That premise may sound familiar and that’s because Jake Gyllenhaal recently came out with a film called The Covenant directed by Guy Ritchie that follows a very similar progression. The problem is the emotional layering of The Covenant and the relationship between the two leads is much more structured than what we see between Butler and Negahban. That, while compelling enough, is never able to deliver the same emotional intensity.

The performances in this film aren’t bad at all. I think Butler and Negahban are actually able to elevate this material with their chemistry and their singular performances overall. But it isn’t enough to keep this movie from feeling much longer than it already was. The narrative here boasts some well-crafted action sequences. Butler in a nighttime showdown with a helicopter is a beautifully shot sequence from Waugh whose direction overall veers from traditional, to artistic, to overly stylized throughout the progression fatiguing.

Outside of a few visually stunning action set-pieces are other sequences edited together like a cheesy music video that completely undercut the intended dramatic impact. The score of this movie is also very overbearing in its forcing of emotional notes and frequently the emotional undercurrent of this plot feels artificial and at times forced through the different aspects of filmmaking. Too often Kandahar feels similar to other movies and rarely is able to stand on its own legs despite Butler delivering another likable performance.

Grade: C+

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Cast: Gerard Butler, Ali Fazal, Navid Negahban, Nina Toussaint-White, Tom Rhys Harries, Mark Arnold  Director: Ric Roman Waugh  Writer: Mitchell LaFortune  Distributor: Open Road Films  Running Time: 119 minutes  Rating: R (Language and violence)  Year: 2023  Language: English  Genre: Action/Thriller

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Anthony J. Digioia II © 2023 SilverScreen Analysis. All Rights Reserved.

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