Sergeant review: Randeep Hooda's film is an amalgamation of an unbaked plot, lazy writing, and needless plot twists

1.5/5

Story: Sergeant revolves around the life of Nikhil Sharma, a dedicated and morally upright police officer. It showcases sacrifice, redemption, and the complexities of personal relationships in the face of adversity.

Review: In the pursuit of justice, Nikhil (Randeep Hooda) pays a heavy price. The failed drug and murder investigation not only shatters his peace of mind but also derails his aspirations of reaching higher ranks within the police force. Adding to his misfortune, Nikhil loses one of his legs in the line of duty.

The film goes into more detail about Nikhil's personal struggles, including his ongoing argument with his father (Arun Govil), whom he holds accountable for his mother's passing. He also finds himself in a never-ending rivalry with Inspector Haider Ali, played by Adil Hussain, as he bags the position that Nikhil was about to get.

Writer-directed Prawaal Raman tries his best to churn out a suspense-driven mystery drama; however, the outing merely appears uncooked and cluttered. From the unclear jump cuts between past and present to the confusing sequences combining a few cases at once, Sergeant fails to impress with its murky writing and amateur execution on screen.

Hussain and Govil's characters appear negative and fishy at the beginning but turn out to be good and supportive towards Randeep's Nikhil.

Adipurush is the latest illustration of how a performer should not follow a director's vision blindly and must question the process while filming. Meanwhile, Sergeant is yet another example of the same. Not only does Hussain's performance look repetitive, but Govil also brings nothing extraordinary to the table. Among all, it's Hooda who disappoints the most.

The ace and versatile actor tries his best to get into the skin of his character, who is broken physically, mentally, and by heart. However, his attempts are not seamless and don't even appear compelling. Many times, you'll witness him not delivering a clear dialogue but just murmuring a few words in anger and helplessness.

For some time, Sapna Pabbi's entrance seemed important to the narrative, but she ended up being an unnecessary plot twist in the one-hour and 44-minute-long torture.

Verdict: Sergeant is not only slow but also an amalgamation of an unbaked plot, lazy writing, and needless plot twists. Even a few of the finest performers in the industry couldn't save this sinking ship.