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Rocky Handsome is film about a man who sets out to take vengeance against drug mafia after they take away an eight-year old girl, with whom he shares a special bond.
Critic Consensus
Rocky Handsome received a largely negative to mixed critical reception, with most reviewers finding it a flawed and emotionally hollow action film. The near-universal point of praise was John Abraham's physicality and select well-executed action sequences, which several critics acknowledged as the film's sole saving grace. Common criticisms centered on a weak, clichéd script, poor dialogue, an absence of emotional depth, and an overreliance on style and gore at the expense of storytelling. Many critics recommended the film only to dedicated action fans or John Abraham loyalists.
34 reviews · 4 positive · 14 mixed · 8 negative
AI-generated summary of 34 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyCritic Reviews (34)
"ohn Abraham performs these portions convincingly. He's in beast mode for the bulk of the film, and there's a strange thrill in watching him dispatch the bad guys systematically. He's sincere even in the quieter bits with the little girl next door, but eventually let down by the corny dialogue and a script that's steeped in cliché, right down to the assassin's tragic back-story."Read full review ↗
"Everything is all over the place in this Goa over-run by 'Roosis', and dark night clubs, and organ traders, and scenes of extreme, hard-core violence. Remind me again, why are we watching this one?"Read full review ↗
"It is unequivocally evident from the start of this dark gripping thriller about damnation and tentative redemption that Kamat is a director who understands John's physicality as well as his emotional strengths. Kamat uses both the qualities to create a man doddering on the edge of self-destruction."Read full review ↗
"...is for people who like action films. Despite the film having a simple plot, it has been garnished with engrossing drama and action stunningly. One can find the right mix of tension, action, emotion under one roof. A well-made action thriller!"Read full review ↗
"At its core, John Abraham's Rocky Handsome is a tale of emotion and action. And it is in the action part that this Nishikant Kamat-directed film shines."Read full review ↗
"If you are looking forward for nerve-racking with a pinch of emotional turmoil, then without-a-doubt 'Rocky Handsome' is what you need."Read full review ↗
"...is bound to appeal only to those fond of action films. While this may lack major emotional content, the film's action scenes are worth a watch, especially the pre-climax scene which will keep you hooked to your seats, a nail-biting action ends the movie on a thrilling note."Read full review ↗
"Overall the film will appeal to those who love to see action and want to see John doing it. And yes, he is more bulky this time around."Read full review ↗
"John's hot bod and slick action can't save the underwhelming actioner..."Read full review ↗
"Rocky Handsome is meant for hard-core action fans. And for those who want to discover a bigger (much, much) and better John Abraham."Read full review ↗
"The violence combined with the dreary look is intended to be very 'international' (sic), but actually both the brutality and look are overdone. We lost count of the stabs and slicing of heads, throats and abdomens), but, mercifully, there are no profanities either, controversial or otherwise."Read full review ↗
"John Abraham as the lean, mean, killing machine is perfect for the role of Kabir. It's the execution and poor dialogue that makes this film a damp squib."Read full review ↗
"John Abraham … err … Rocky Handsome is a very average film with some finely executed action sequences on display. But, make no mistake: Don't expect anything more from this film."Read full review ↗
"Rocky Handsome is an action packed movie of a person who wants save a little girl from a drug mafia as his ultimate redemption. Unfortunately, it only has great action scenes and nothing else. Weak storyline combined with an ordinary execution."Read full review ↗
"The movie is so busy falling over itself to look stylish and slick that it forgets to focus on the emotional aspect altogether. There is zero connect between the two central characters, Rocky and Naomi, and the script goes haywire at many places, but the director was evidently concentrating on making the movie look cool by getting the cameras go back and forth with heavy doses of flashbacks and slow-mos drizzled in between."Read full review ↗
"Given the film's single-minded obsession with crime and given the setting, it could've well been titled Madgaon Vice. But since the lead here is also the producer, we'll let this pass."Read full review ↗
"This 'nowhere man' seems intent on a slow, unsteady walk back to where he has come from. Nowhere. That pretty much sums up the film. Rocky Handsome is strictly for fans of ultra-violent action movies."Read full review ↗
"...a film can work only if the viewer is emotionally invested in the character and their journey. That's the reason Rocky Handsome doesn't work neither as an emotional drama nor an action flick. This could've been a far better film."Read full review ↗
"Rocky Handsome is strictly for die-hard John Abraham fans, or fans of blood and gore. Vegetarians - please steer clear."Read full review ↗
"I'm still trying to understand what ROCKY HANDSOME is all about..."Read full review ↗
"I would have loved to see an edgy action flick but the only dishy thing about 'Rocky Handsome' is John flexing his muscles and methodically beating the bad guys into a pulp. Watch it if you have an appetite for mindless blood and gore."Read full review ↗
"I've seen worse, but to put things into perspective: The director's earliest Hindi film was the delightful 'Mumbai Meri Jaan'. This was before he discovered that making movies is a very lucrative business."Read full review ↗
"It takes concrete storytelling not style to camouflage John Abraham's limitations. He bears the physicality of a man who could take on a dozen but his blank, pained surface cannot offer threat or evoke sympathy."Read full review ↗
"The action of the film is impressive but without much emotional context, it fails to leave an impact. Also, the film uses more knives than all the episodes of Masterchefs put together. It looks sharp and slick initially, alas turns into an unnecessary gore fest towards the end."Read full review ↗
"Watch this if you are an Abraham loyalist, otherwise it's a good idea to duck this all-brawn-no-brains film."Read full review ↗
"Director Nishikant Kamat piles on horror upon horror to make John Abraham the action star that he has been in his earlier films like Force. But the horrors are so unbelievable - tourists being killed for their organs, kids kidnapped and killed for organs and thievery, drugs, guns, builder mafia - and executed so laughably, so over the the top that there's unintentional laughter instead of tension."Read full review ↗
"Even at a multiplex-friendly 125 minutes, Rocky Handsome feels too long, mainly because it has nothing of real value to offer. The way the film is written, acted, and edited, it seems very clear that not much thought has gone into it. Presumably, Kamat thought the novelty value of the action sequences would carry it through. This is what happens when you start thinking of filmmaking as a day job, instead of the privilege it should be."Read full review ↗
"If you plan to watch Rocky Handsome then, you have two options: you could feast your eyes on John and his feats, or make the mistake of seeking depth and feelings within that pageantry. Choose Option 1 and you are pretty much assured of paisa vasool. I know, I know, that's a terribly superficial thing to say. This critic is guilty as charged."Read full review ↗
"The moment when Handsome's real identity is revealed is tepid and underlines the emotional vacuousness of the script. The punch-by-numbers action scenes are not enough to save a poorly adapted film with poorly pitched performances, out-of-tune casting and tacky execution."Read full review ↗
"Style and stunts play a big role in action movies. But you can't discount other aspects of filmmaking just to make an action film that looks sexy. The biggest mistake Rocky Handsome makes is to give it's lead character an emotional and patriotic back story. It just turns him into another caricature and it never quite justifies his appetite for killing. John Abraham's training in martial arts is evident in the scenes featuring him in hand-to-hand combat. There the effort is 100 per cent. But rest of the way, this is one rocky film trying a little too hard to be handsome."Read full review ↗
"Kamat's ability to turn a good original film into a credible remake was suspect even in his last film "Drishyam", but "Rocky Handsome" is solid proof that Bollywood can ruin even the most straightforward of remakes. There are stereotypes galore, deafening background music and lots of blood and gore. Some of the action sequences are executed well, but that is about the only saving grace."Read full review ↗
"The movie's highlights are three action sequences that have been faithfully replicated from the original. Hamstrung by local censorship laws, Rocky Handsome has had to trim back the ultraviolence that marks South Korean crime dramas¸ but at least the movie comes to life when the death count is ticking. It's a pity that the survivors are not as interesting as the corpses."Read full review ↗
"Rocky Handsome as much as it achieves what it sets out to be – an all-out action thriller will be far from being counted among Kamat's best works."Read full review ↗
"An adaptation can always be done with one's own distinct touch. But Rocky Handsome is happy and satisfied in living off borrowed aesthetics even while clinging to its Indian self for all the wrong reasons. It ends up being neither here nor there. The nowhere film alienates, makes for a pronounced disconnect and also makes one long for the return of the good old fashioned, home grown Indian action hero who knew what he stood for. I will take a Ghayal Once Again over this any day."Read full review ↗
Cast & Crew
Cast
- John Abraham · Kabir Ahlawat
- Shruti Haasan · Rukshida
- Nathalia Kaur · Anna
- Nishikant Kamat · Kevin Pereira
- Sharad Kelkar
- Nora Fatehi
- Sunir Khetrapal
- Ritesh Shah
- Sunny Bawra
- Inder Bawra
- Shanker Raman
- Aarif Shaikh
Director
Writer
Cinematography
Producer
Editing
Details
- Release Date
- 25 March 2016
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Language
- Hindi
User Ratings & Reviews
4 ratings from the community
Community Reviews (2)
Exhaustive. Weak direction.. too much flashback.. this film only make you tired.. and thrust for the end..
John Abraham is the actor who says he loves to do action films as this is his favourite genre. Same with me, action is my favourite and this compelled me to watch the much awaited action film ROCKY HANDSOME, in which John Abraham proves that even Indian cinema can have world class action. The film, to put simply, is a heart warming entertainer with emotions, and showcases the ultimate fighting skills of John. A remake of the Korean film The Man From Nowhere (Ajeossi), ROCKY HANDSOME stands at par with the original, in terms of action. I have seen Ajeossi which too was excellent. ROCKY HANDSOME does have stylized violent action but not as gory as Ajeossi. It has clean entertainment with execution that keeps the film alive and the viewer awake. Every single frame is shot very well. Not just does it stay true to the original, but even turns out to be better than the original in certain aspects. John Abraham gives a very controlled, enthusiastic and energetic performance. He's the main guy who drives the film and the action. The way he handles the knife to fight is simply the best thing. Nishikant Kamat's performance as Kevin is convincing, although he went a little overboard while laughing in a scene. Diya Chalwad as Naomi is impressive. Shruti Haasan doesn't have much to do except appearing in a few songs and scenes. But she does even the small part well. The surprise package was Kazu Patrick Tang, whose performance and fighting impressed a lot. Other cast including Sharad Kelkar, Nathalia Kaur, Teddy Maurya etc do their job well. The music is good, although a fast paced film like this didn't actually need songs. The background score is thrilling. The cinematography, locations, VFX etc are all top notch. The fight sequences are extremely excellent and are of a kind never seen before. The editing is crisp and the film doesn't bore you in even a single moment. The powerful story supports the equally captivating screenplay. Overall, ROCKY HANDSOME is an action film never seen before. It's an action packed adventurous ride that keeps entertaining till it comes to an end. For action lovers like me, this film is a full on entertainer that we were wiling to see since long. For all others, this is absolutely a new kind of experience that will be remembered for years to come. A sureshot blockbuster!





























