Ah, Gerard Butler, the man who can make even the most mundane CIA operative seem like a thrilling hero. Well, at least he tries to in "Kandahar," but let's just say it's not exactly a high-octane adventure.


Meet Tom Harris, our not-so-secret CIA agent, planting bombs to stop Iran's nuclear program. Quite the commendable job, right? Except, he's also dealing with some personal drama – surprise, surprise – estranged from his daughter's mother because he's married to the job. Classic CIA agent move, am I right? 

Now, normally, missing your daughter's graduation would be bad enough, but this time, it's high school, not college. Talk about a letdown! But hey, at least it's a deadline to add some spice to the plot, right? Well, maybe not so much.


Tom's forced to team up with Mo, an Afghan translator, and despite their cultural differences, they form a Strong Bond™️. Cue the eye rolls. And of course, they have to navigate through Afghanistan, because why not make things more complicated?

But wait, there's more! We've got a fancy war room full of CIA overlords watching Tom's every move like it's a sports game. "I like this guy, he's good," they say, as if they're commenting on a particularly skilled quarterback.


In between car chases and mediocre dialogue, we get gems like, "You have to go home and hold them in your hearts before you forget what it feels like." Really? Is that the best advice you've got, Mo?

Oh, and let's not forget the standoff with a warlord, some noble self-sacrifice, and a mysterious motorcycle rider. It's like a checklist of action movie clichés that forgot to bring the excitement along for the ride.

In the end, "Kandahar" leaves you feeling more exhausted than entertained. Maybe next time, Gerard Butler can stick to saving the world in a more thrilling way.