There is a moment in Alpha when everything on screen screams “blockbuster”. Helicopters soar overhead. Bullets fly. The background score swells. The camera refuses to sit still. Yet, strangely, you feel… nothing.
That’s the biggest problem with YRF’s latest spy outing. It has all the ingredients of a grand spectacle, but almost none of the soul.
For a franchise that has consistently raised the bar with films like Pathaan and War, Alpha feels surprisingly safe. The plot unfolds exactly as you’d expect, with every twist visible from miles away. There is little suspense, barely any emotional payoff and almost no moment that genuinely catches you off guard. Instead of pulling you into the story, the film keeps reminding you how expensive it looks.
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Alia Bhatt and Sharvari deliver, but the writing lets them down
Alia Bhatt commits wholeheartedly to the role. She has clearly put in the hard work, especially in the physically demanding action sequences. Sharvari, too, brings confidence and screen presence. Together, they make for a convincing pair. The problem is not the actors. It is the writing. Neither character is given enough depth to make us care beyond the next action sequence.
Anil Kapoor steals the show
Then walks in Anil Kapoor.
Every time Kapoor appears, the film suddenly wakes up. His screen presence is magnetic, his dialogue delivery effortless and his performance wonderfully controlled. While everyone else seems busy trying to look like spies, Kapoor simply becomes the character. He brings gravitas, humour and emotion without ever trying too hard. In a film that often feels mechanical, he is refreshingly human. It’s not an exaggeration to say that he walks away with the movie.
A forgettable villain weakens the conflict
The villain, unfortunately, is another missed opportunity. Bobby Deol has the personality and intensity to make for a memorable antagonist, but the script gives him almost nothing to work with. He remains more of a plot device than a genuine threat, and that hurts the film’s biggest confrontations.
Stylish visuals cannot mask a hollow screenplay
Visually, Alpha is polished. The cinematography is slick, the international locations are stunning and the action is mounted on a scale rarely seen in Indian cinema. But spectacle without substance only goes so far. Once the excitement of the action wears off, the emptiness of the screenplay becomes impossible to ignore.
Franchise building takes priority over storytelling
The film also spends too much time trying to connect itself to the larger YRF Spy Universe. Cameos, callbacks and franchise building often take precedence over telling a compelling standalone story. It feels less like a complete film and more like a bridge to the next chapter.
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Is Alpha worth your time?
Alpha is never boring, but it is rarely gripping. It entertains in flashes, impresses visually and benefits immensely from Anil Kapoor’s commanding performance. Yet, for all its scale and ambition, it never delivers the emotional punch or narrative thrill that defines a great spy thriller. In one line, even Hrithik Roshan’s little cameo couldn’t save the film from a terrible disappointment.
Sometimes, the loudest explosions cannot hide the silence of a weak script.