Pushpa 2: The Rule Review: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna's Actioner Is Less Fire, More Flower

Allu Arjun as Pushpa

Pushpa 2 movie review: Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna-starrer finally released to packed houses today (December 5). The film begins with Pushpa taking the Dunki route to Japan to recover his money he lost when his sandalwood consignment lands at a Japanese port. He learns Japanese while being locked in a container. Sings "Mera joota hai japaani" at one point and ends falling in the river.

In a flashback we learn that Pushpa knows how to swim because he was bullied as a child, forced to go into the river and look for the missing cricket ball.

Meanwhile, Fahad Faasil, who plays SP Shekhawat, disguises himself as one of Pushpa's workers and travels with his entourage to get more information on his syndicate.

Elsewhere, Pushpa dolls up for his Vaiko Srivalli who wants her Saami to click a picture with the CM.

In addition to addressing Pushpa's childhood trauma, director Sukumar also touches on casteism and classism. When Srivalli visits a temple, the Panditji asks her Gotra. She has no khaandaan so she has no gotra.

What works well for Pushpa 2 is the romance between Srivalli and Pushpa. It is both cheesy and cringe inducing but somehow, still endearing. Pushpa has sex with Srivalli when she is overpowered by "Peelings" which mostly happens when Pushpa is with his men, discussing important matters of the syndicate.

Trouble in paradise begins when the CM refuses to take a picture with Pushpa. "Pairon ki jooti jaisi bhi ho, haath mein thodi pehen ke ghoomenge", he says, referring to Pushpa. The CM isn't happy with the 'Kissik' (reference to Sreeleela's item number in secondd half), sound of the flash when the picture is clicked.

Pushpa takes a helicopter to Maldives. The man he is negotiating with, is condescending towards him. He strikes a deal with Pushpa and goes international.

Saurabh Sachdeva plays Hamid, the man from Dubai who wants to strike a deal with Pushpa.

Back home, Daksha, the wife of Shekhawat (Fahad Fazil) is angry. She questions his manhood and poisons his ear against Pushpa to force him to lock horns with him.

Fazil as Shekhawat is truly unhinged. But he cuts a pathetic figure before Pushpa. Watching Fazil play a caricature of a villain is underwhelming to say the least. He is humiliated when Pushpa pees on him. Needless to say, Fazil is far from the menacing, scary villain one hopes for.

The first half is too slow, has mostly dramatic scenes and less action. The film loses the plot entirely pre-interval sequence. The film is painstakingly long and barely justified most of its runtime.

Sukumar isn't really sure which way he wants to go. Is the film about Pushpa trying to avenge the CM for refusing to click a picture with him?

Is it about Pushpa and Shekhawat's rivalry? Or about Pushpa's childhood trauma and his struggle against classicism? The film is essentially a chaotic mess which mixes these themes in a way which comes across as an incongruent, incoherent mess.

While the Jathara sequence is breathtaking and without a doubt, the highlight of the film, but the last 30 minutes mostly unnecessary. The film lays the groundwork for upcoming Pushpa 3: The Rampage, at the cost of compromising on its climax. Watch Pushpa 2 only for its action and Allu Arjun's swag.

Star rating: 2.5 / 5 stars

Pushpa 2: The Rule is now playing in theaters.