Gerard Butler seems to understand what kinds of roles suit him, and his appealing performance as the lead is definitely one of “Kandahar’s” strongest aspects, which is a military action thriller centered on an undercover CIA operative, Tom (played by Gerard Butler), who finds himself trapped in a dangerous part of Afghanistan alongside his translator, Mo (Navid Negahban). It shares some similarities with Guy Ritchie's "The Covenant" released earlier this year, but the two movies are ultimately quite different. In this story, these two men have to collaborate to evade an elite special forces team that’s been ordered to track them down after their mission is revealed. The storyline follows a straightforward and uncomplicated path, although Mitchell LaFortune's script incorporates some intelligent writing with a political perspective. There are extended conversations which can feel slow at times—though this is balanced by large-scale explosions and intense gun battles—and it’s not just empty action. It becomes difficult to keep track of all the characters and groups involved, and how they're either assisting or hindering each other, but the core of the narrative revolves around the connection between Mo and Tom and their determination to survive. Their developing friendship is essential to the plot, though viewers will need to put aside some doubts because it’s hard to believe that such a strong bond could form so quickly. The movie has good casting choices overall, with everyone delivering solid performances, which contributes to building a stronger emotional connection between the audience and the characters. The situation feels perilous and the consequences are significant, making each shootout impactful and suspenseful. You'll find yourself hoping these men can make it out alive, but reaching their final extraction point turns into an increasingly risky endeavor. Director Ric Roman Waugh, who previously teamed with Butler on “Angel Has Fallen” and “Greenland,” is a competent choice for the director’s chair, but the overly dark visuals and frequent use of shaky camera work are distracting. The repetitive chase – fight – repeat structure becomes boring pretty quickly. Even though the plot is somewhat predictable, "Kandahar" attempts to explore some complex ideas about the ongoing conflict and violence in the Middle East. This makes it a respectable (though not particularly memorable) film that combines action with emotional depth, rather than just relying on explosions for their own sake.

Source on TMDB