Cast: Akhil Akkineni, Sakshi Vaidya, Mammotty, Dino Morea, Sampath Raj
Director: Surender Reddy
Producers: Ramabrahmam Sunkara, Ajay Sunkara, Pathi Deepa Reddy
Akhil Akkineni, who has been trying his luck for nearly a decade for a hit has finally arrived with ‘Agent’ on which he pinned all his hopes. Let’s see whether Akhil can deliver the super hit which is due from him for a long time.
Story: The movie’s plot revolves around a rogue ex-agent, known as God, who forms a syndicate. To stop him, an unexpected recruit, Ricky (played by Akhil), emerges. Along the way, Ricky develops a relationship with Mahadev (played by Mammootty). The mission, known as Mission Rabit, is central to the plot, and the love angle plays a crucial role in the overall story.
Performances: Akhil returns to the action genre with Agent after two softer films. He undergoes a physical transformation, sporting a six-pack and a new hairstyle, which adds to his stylish and cool on-screen persona. However, Akhil’s acting in Agent is a mixed bag.
His whacky and wild role works only in bits and pieces, and he fails to impress in the bigger mass moments, such as the intense scenes and confrontations with the villain. Akhil’s improvement is visible in the lighter scenes and in his lively body language. He also attempts to speak in Telangana slang, which is passable. Overall, Agent portrays Akhil as a work in progress, highlighting what works and what needs improvement.
Sakshi Vaidya, who lacks a big-screen presence, plays the female lead in Agent. Apart from looking glamorous and having a few romantic scenes with the hero, her role is unremarkable. In the second half, when her character goes missing, it doesn’t affect the audience much, indicating the lack of depth in her acting and characterization.
While Agent features some well-known actors in key roles, some of them feel miscast or unnecessary for their parts. Mammootty, for instance, doesn’t look convincing in the over-the-top action scenes, and any prominent character actor could have played his role. The same goes for Dino Moreo, who plays the villain but doesn’t quite fit the part. Varalakshmi Sarathkumar’s role is also insignificant and doesn’t do justice to her talent. Sampath and Sathya, on the other hand, deliver satisfactory performances.
Analysis: Agent, directed by Surender Reddy, known for his stylish action films like Kick and Dhruva, is a spy thriller with plenty of action. Unfortunately, the film falls short of expectations due to its routine premise and poor writing. While Akhil’s characterization stands out, the love track fails to provide any fun or entertainment, and the songs are forgettable.
The film picks up some momentum towards the interval with an impressive action sequence, but things go downhill in the second half. The action scenes become lengthy and tiring, and the drama lacks depth and intensity. The villain’s over-the-top and illogical acts feel unconvincing due to miscasting, making the film’s action look clumsy and exhausting.
Despite attempts to differentiate Agent from other spy thrillers with quirkiness, the writing disappoints, bringing silliness to the fore instead of making it look crazy and wacky. The pre-climax and climax are too loud and over the top, leaving the audience drained by the end.
Verdict: Overall, Agent is a misfire from Surender Reddy, lacking conviction and falling short in providing fun and action. The film is a wild ride, but a tiring and exhausting one that leaves a lot to be desired.