MR-9: Do or Die (2023) [Movie Review] — A Bold Franchise Attempt That Often Stumbles

Movie: MR-9: Do or Die

Director: Asif Akbar

Writer: Asif Akbar, Nazim Ud Daula, and Abdul Aziz

Stars: Michael Jai White, Frank Grillo, Matt Passmore, Kelly Greyson, Sakshi Pradhan, Dav Coretti, Abm Sumon, Omi Vaidya, Sara Rose, and more.

Premise & Ambition

A local spy saga with international aspirations

This film aims high: a homegrown spy franchise that borrows the spectacle of big-budget Western thrillers while keeping one foot in Bangladeshi cinematic sensibilities. The core plot—an elite operative pairing with an outsider to dismantle a transnational criminal network—offers plenty of franchise-friendly promise. Ambition is never the problem; the movie wants to be audacious, globe-trotting, and slick. Where it falters is in matching that reach with the resources and a consistently tight screenplay needed to make the ride convincing.

Performances & Casting

Star power keeps the engine running

The casting is one of the film’s greatest assets. The international leads bring physical presence and screen charisma that elevate otherwise routine material. The principal antagonist carries enough menace to justify the protagonist’s mission, and the local lead provides a charismatic center that grounds the film. Supporting players frequently steal small moments, and the chemistry is strongest when the story leans into smoky, fist-and-gun set pieces. That said, uneven line readings and occasional dubbing issues pull viewers out of the moment—reminders that performance alone can’t paper over uneven writing.

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Direction & Production Values

Resourceful direction; occasional rough edges show

The director stages action with clear intent and enthusiasm. Fight choreography and stunt work are often impressive given the constraints, and there’s a palpable love for genre beats—gadgets, clandestine briefings, and a ‘Q’-like weapons room all make appearances. Production design does admirable work with what’s available, but CGI and lighting sometimes betray the budget. The film’s polish is inconsistent: some sequences sparkle with cinematic flair, while others feel like they were shot separately and glued together in post. The result is an energetic film that often looks bigger than it is, but not always convincingly so.

Script, Pacing & Structural Issues

Packed with ideas, thin on resolution

At roughly two hours, the screenplay tries to juggle world-building, origin threads, and sequel set-ups—too many plates for its own good. Several scenes aim for emotional weight but are undercut by clunky exposition or predictable beats. The pacing mostly moves briskly through action, but the finale suffers from an abundance of denouements; the movie sets up future chapters so extensively that the film’s own climax never lands with full force. A leaner script or sharper editing would have transformed many promising stretches into genuinely thrilling cinema.

Action & Choreography

Real effort, flashes of brilliance

Where the film truly succeeds is in its practical action. Hand-to-hand sequences and close-quarters firefights are staged with care, and the choreography often feels tactile and immediate. A few large-scale explosions and shootouts verge into CGI territory that doesn’t always sell, yet the close combat sells the physical stakes well. Fans of classic spy action will find enough pulse-pounding moments to justify a viewing.

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Final Verdict

An enterprising start that needs stronger finishing

This film is a spirited first step toward a local spy franchise: it has the cast, the bones, and genuine moments of adrenaline-fueled fun. However, script inconsistencies, occasional technical shortcomings, and an over-eager appetite to set up sequels prevent it from rising above competent genre fare. For viewers who love action and can forgive rough edges in the service of charm and ambition, it’s worth a look. Those expecting a fully polished, franchise-ready blockbuster may be left wanting.

Rating: ★★⯪☆☆ (2.5 / 5) — an ambitious, sometimes entertaining spy picture that needs tighter writing and bigger resources to fulfill its potential.