: Our lovable Chanderi gang is back! Even though they rid their village of 'Stree', a far bigger threat now endangers the residents. While the men were in trouble in the previous film, this time, it’s the women - specifically, those who don't adhere to traditionalism. Amar Kaushik's goes bigger with jokes, thrills and even the cast.
When the first film came out, it was a more contained story with a sequel tease. Six years later, finds itself leading an expanded cinematic universe, with two offshoots already released and more planned ahead. Now, you get a couple of star cameos, two mid-credit scenes, and a verbal tease of another film.
has a lot going on, and while it handles that job quite entertainingly, you do feel the strain of the expanded expectations on the movie. . After Stree's defeat, the village of Chanderi faces a new supernatural entity, Sarkata - a towering giant whose head can detach and who abducts the 'rebellious' women of the village to his secret lair.
He also has a history with Stree, which is why he remained dormant while Stree haunted Chanderi. : Now that he’s threatening the village, it's once again up to Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi), Bittoo (Aparshakti Khurana), and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) to save Chanderi from his evil clutches. To Vicky's utmost glee, his mysterious nameless love (Shraddha Kapoor) has returned with brand-new powers, and this time, there’s a possibility he may finally get to know her and her secretive past better.
Good news first! is definitely an enjoyable sequel to the entertaining horror-comedy. The horror elements are spooky in a rustic manner, with a fun folklore appeal, but it’s the comedy where shines the most. Rajkummar Rao is in stellar form throughout, almost overshadowing everyone in scenes with his nearly flawless comic timing.
With perfect partners in crime—Tripathi, Khurana, and Banerjee (who also excels in this week's other release, , albeit in a more sinister role)—the quartet bring the house down with their in-sync camaraderie, raising chuckles with their one-liners even when the humour doesn't always land. . This is why I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, thanks to the entertaining mix of comedy and spooks.
Shraddha Kapoor steps more into the 'action hero' role here, particularly in the pre-interval fight scene, and she doesn’t disappoint. Credit must be given to Kaushik, who, even amidst the male camaraderie and headless entities, manages to make their love story touching and adorable. Unfortunately, doesn't keep the footing steady throughout.
The movie doesn’t just have to deal with the curse of the Sarkata; it also has to contend with another bigger curse - the second-half syndrome. The movie struggles to overcome this curse, and it’s noticeable throughout. Despite the cast's best efforts, the comedy starts to fall flat.
There’s a lot going on in these portions, including the franchise's recurring themes of feminism and patriarchy. Even so, the second half could use some trimming, as you can feel the lag in certain places. It’s not that the second half is bad; it just pales a bit in comparison to the more entertaining and hilarious first half.
Still, thanks to an in-form Rajkummar Rao and company, you might not feel it’s much of a miss. . This flaw also applies to the action-packed climax set in a lava-strewn 'netherworld', which goes on a few minutes too long.
There's a cameo here, connecting to the larger Maddock Supernatural Universe, which feels forced, even if it gives the climax an -like moment (listen carefully, and you’ll notice the background score even rings similar to the theme). There’s also another special guest appearance earlier on, which was fun to watch, played by an actor known for making his cameos scene-stealing each and every time. What's more, there is a possibility that he could decide this franchise's future.
Have we met the 'Thanos' of Maddock Supernatural Universe? is a worthy sequel that, despite its flaws, succeeds in keeping the franchise's flame burning bright. The movie manages to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable experience with its entertaining blend of horror and humour. stumbles a bit in its latter half, weighed down by the pressures of franchise-building, but the spirited performances, particularly Rao, and the charming dynamics of its lead cast keep it afloat.
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