Get ready for an explosive reunion between director Rick Roman Waugh and Gerard Butler in Kandahar. This time, they’re taking on the spy thriller genre with a star-studded cast that includes Travis Fimmel, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, and Bahador Foladi. But let’s be real, these types of stories can often fall into the same old narrative: a westerner travels to the Middle East, things go boom, westerner saves the day, the end. Yawn. But Kandahar promises to be different, with a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The story begins in Iran with Tom Harris (played by Butler) and his partner Oliver (Tom Rhys Harries) working on wiring at a nuclear plant center. But their cover is just a front to deposit a bomb. When they’re surrounded by guards who become suspicious of their intentions, Harris de-escalates the situation and they manage to get away. But their cover is blown by a reporter trying to break a story on what the CIA is doing in the Middle East, and now they must go into hiding while the nuclear plant explodes. Meanwhile, in Herat, Afghanistan, Mo (Negahban) is set to work as a translator and receives his orders from Roman (Fimmel), a CIA liaison in the UAE. Even though the CIA agent is on the run, Roman asks for one more short-term job to destroy another power plant, to which Harris says yes for some reason. This is when he connects with Mo, and the pair have limited time to finish the job before they are discovered and killed before getting home.
But there’s more to this story than just explosions and espionage. Mo is searching for his sister, who was a teacher abducted by the Taliban and hasn’t been heard from since. This subplot adds a layer of depth to the film that will keep you invested in the characters and their journey.
And let’s talk about Gerard Butler for a second. Is he trying to take the crown from Liam Neeson as the scruffy older man willing to battle for truth, justice, and the Western way? Maybe. But regardless, Butler delivers a standout performance that will leave you rooting for him until the very end.
Sure, some action films can be a bit predictable, but Kandahar is not one of them. With heart-pumping action, a compelling plot, and a talented cast, this film is a must-see. Don’t miss it when it hits theaters on May 26, 2023.
