Citadel: Honey Bunny

This Indian spin-off of the Russo Brothers' "Citadel" aims to capture the charm of a spy action thriller but delivers a rather lackluster experience. Like its original and Italian counterpart, this adaptation leans heavily on some out-dated spy tropes and quirky story elements that may not feel fresh.

The characters, unfortunately, lack depth, and the narrative often stumbles, featuring a screenplay that's padded with boring scenes, seemingly to stretch the runtime. Some critical moments feel illogical.

Mediocre direction by Raj & DK, The show takes place in the early '90s and 2000, but aside from a random pager tossed in, there's hardly any effort to make the setting feel authentic to the time.

Varun Dhawan, in the lead, certainly gives his all-he looks the part and shows dedication, though his acting may not quite match the demands of the role.

Samantha, on the other hand, is energetic in her over acting and her expressions and voice sometimes feel annoying. The de-aging effects on her face are painfully obvious, and with all the plastic surgeries, Botox and Heavy makeup her appearance feels more artificial than authentic. While her commitment to action scenes is clear it's hard yo watch those fist fights which are composed in very silly manner.

Child actor Kashvi brings a cute presence, though her acting is still evolving.

Among the rest of the cast, Kay Kay and Simran deserve special praise, bringing solid performances that lift the story.

The production values are respectable, with template cinematography and decent music. Overall, I wouldn't rush to recommend this series.