#Review: Citadel- Honey Bunny ( A Thrilling Mess)

Alright, let’s get straight to it—Citadel: Honey Bunny is a mixed bag. Some characters shine like a well-polished diamond, while others… well, they’re more like a rock you stub your toe on.

Let’s start with the elephant in the room—Varun Dhawan. Oh boy, what a miscast. The man is trying so hard to look like a badass spy, but his expressions are either too much or too little. No in-between. He’s like that one guy in a group project who talks a lot but contributes next to nothing—just all brawn, no brain. His chemistry with Ludo and Chakko is supposed to be playful, but instead, he comes off as an overenthusiastic tourist guide. Every time he was on screen, I found myself wishing someone else had been cast instead.

Now, Samantha Ruth Prabhu—she’s a whole different story. She starts off annoying, yes, but that’s just the slow-burn brilliance of her character arc. She develops with precision, and by the time she’s in full force, she owns every scene she’s in. That is how you do it.

Saqib Saleem? What a transformation! From the charming chocolate boy we once knew to this terrifying, mind-bending villain. Every second of his screen time is justified. K K Menon, as usual, delivers a masterclass in how to be sarcastic and menacing at the same time—effortlessly pulling off his apathetic, dry humour. And then we have Sikander Kher, criminally underutilized yet again. Seriously, when will Bollywood learn to use this man properly?

The plot? Exciting, but also riddled with enough plot holes to make a colander jealous. For instance, how does The Exchange happen so swiftly leaving the receiver, Dr Raghu, dead and the Armada in the hands of someone who you wouldn’t expect? And that whole Dhwan’s revelation of being the father—was that really necessary, or just lazy writing? It was so sloppy that even a crying willow might have showcased some concave curvatures! The show is so eager to shock the audience that it forgets to make sense at times.

The dialogues? Yikes. They lack wit, style, and anything remotely memorable. At times, they’re just plain crude, and not in a “cool spy thriller” way—more in a “who wrote this?” way.

The action sequences in Citadel: Honey Bunny are a masterclass in high-octane storytelling, seamlessly blending fluid choreography with razor-sharp cinematography. Each frame is meticulously crafted, capturing the kinetic energy of every punch, chase, and explosion with a thrilling precision that keeps the audience on edge. The cinematography employs dynamic tracking shots and well-timed slow motion, amplifying the intensity while allowing viewers to absorb every meticulously choreographed move. The sound design adds another layer of immersion, with every gunshot, crash, and breathless moment resonating with raw impact. Combined with a pulsating score that heightens the tension, these action sequences are more than just spectacle—they’re an adrenaline-fueled symphony of chaos and control.

Now, here’s the real gem—the child artist, Nadia (Kashvi Majmundar). Absolute scene-stealer. Every frame with them feels more authentic than anything else happening around them. And speaking of authenticity, the emotional connection between Samantha and Nadia? That’s something you’ll want to watch unfold.

Pacing-wise, Citadel: Honey Bunny is solid. It doesn’t drag, and it keeps you entertained. But every time Varun Dhawan showed up, my immersion snapped like a cheap rubber band. He is so detached from the scene, overacting when subtlety is needed and underacting when intensity is required. It’s frustrating.

Final verdict? Worth a one-time watch, but with patience—especially when Dhawan takes over the screen. You’ve been warned.