‘Stree 2’ Review: Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor Bring the Humor, but Fall Short in Depth”
Amar Kaushik’s horror-comedy ‘Stree 2’ captures the playful spirit and charm of the 2018 original, yet it lacks the deeper themes and sharpness that made the first film stand out. Instead, it focuses on expanding its cinematic universe.
In ‘Stree 2,’ Vicky, the endearing small-town character portrayed by Rajkummar Rao, learns that his greatest virtues in life are ‘sachai aur saralta’ — truth and simplicity. While the film does present a kernel of truth, with its antagonist being a chauvinistic, headless monster reminiscent of a modern-day influencer who misleads young men, these themes gradually get lost amid the complexities of the franchise. Directed by Amar Kaushik, ‘Stree 2’ relies heavily on the charm of its predecessor, yet it feels more like a product of a formulaic approach rather than the uniquely crafted experience of the original. After vanquishing the terrifying Stree, a spirit known for abducting solitary men at night, Vicky, the town’s tailor, has turned into a lovesick drunk. He longs for the girl-with-no-name (Shraddha Kapoor), who vanished along with Stree’s braid at the end of the first film. Vicky’s friends are equally infatuated; Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) is still trying to make a move on his new crush. Meanwhile, Rudra bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), the local paranormal expert, receives an unexpected letter — which he joyfully refers to as a “gupt sandesh” (secret message) — and immediately thinks of his former love, Shama. However, the letter carries a warning. It reveals unsettling occurrences in Chanderi, including the abduction of young girls by ‘Sarkata,’ a menacing demon with a longstanding grudge against Stree. His detachable flying head adds to the chaos.
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