One Battle After Another is an action-comedy with brains, heart and spectacle. It entertains from start to finish without slipping into boredom, even though at 162 minutes it takes its time. Director Paul Thomas Anderson crafts a film that is equal parts satire, social commentary and pure fun.
Anderson, who also wrote and produced the film, draws loosely from Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland but reshapes it through his own lens. His touch is unmistakable: bold tonal shifts, an ambition to mix genres and a constant push to surprise the audience.
The film balances serious themes like identity, corruption, loyalty with moments of sly comedy. At times, these shifts work brilliantly, at other moments, they clash, giving the middle section a slightly uneven rhythm. Still, by the finale, Anderson pulls it all back together with power and precision.
The acting is what really elevates the film. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob, a former revolutionary whose personal failures and drug use have left him broken yet still tethered to his daughter. DiCaprio delivers both raw intensity and vulnerability, reminding us why he remains one of the most reliable leading men in Hollywood. Opposite him, Sean Penn is ruthless and explosive as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, a crazy antagonist projecting danger in every scene. Their tension drives the narrative forward.
Teyana Taylor brings spark and charisma as Perfidia Beverly Hills, making the most of every moment on screen. It’s exciting to see her talent recognized on such a big stage (if you haven’t seen her in A Thousand and One, it’s well worth checking out).
Supporting turns from Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and young Chase Infiniti (as Bob’s daughter Willa) add depth and texture, giving the film’s rebel network and family dynamics real weight.
The film succeeds in balancing spectacle with emotion. Action sequences are thrilling without being hollow, while the quieter father-daughter moments resonate. Anderson’s risk-taking and ambition make the film stand out from conventional Hollywood blockbusters. And above all, the cast is uniformly strong, with DiCaprio and Penn commanding the screen while Taylor proves she’s a star to watch.
The pacing isn’t flawless, there are stretches where the story slows down a little too much before surging forward again.
One Battle After Another is a bold, entertaining and often moving piece of cinema. It reminds us that action-comedies can be more than popcorn entertainment when handled by a director with vision and a cast willing to give everything.
The film earns its place as one of the most ambitious releases of the year.