Baby John review: Varun Dhawan-Keerthy Suresh’s actioner is massy but messy

Imagine being served a buffet filled with an overdose of masala food that leaves your palate bewildered.

Varun Dhawan’s Baby John is exactly that, in the form of a long, very long, two-hour- 45-minute film. While the makers initially claimed that Baby John is inspired by the blockbuster Theri, let’s burst that bubble – the film is almost a rehash of the Thalapathy Vijay-starrer. Hence, every frame looks more like a vision of Atlee, the director of the 2016 original Tamil film, and the presenter of Baby John. The biggest highlight, however, is Salman Khan’s cameo and the banter he shares with Varun Dhawan, who somehow mirrors the superstar’s swag in his own sweet way.

The Kalees-directed film follows John (Dhawan), who is living a normal life with his daughter Khushi (a fabulous Zara Zyanna). He is showered with attention from her school teacher (Wamiqa Gabbi). As you await some sweet romance, we see the otherwise meek John fold up his lungi, kick and punch a dozen villains in his backyard. This is when we learn that he is Satya Verma – an ex-righteous cop, who ruffled the wrong feathers of a corrupt minister (Jackie Shroff), leading to the tragic murder of his wife Meera (Keerthy Suresh) and mother (Sheeba Chadha).

Faking his death, he moves to another part of the country, leaving the service to follow his wife’s dying wish. But ek baar jo maine commitment kardi, toh main pane (Once I’ve made a commitment, then I…)… you get the drift, right?

The humble father soon returns as the stylish supercop and becomes society’s new saviour. Eventually, like in any Indian film, he also manages to beat the villain to a pulp. In Baby John, the hero and his five-year-old child also get to deliver sermons to the villain. And not to forget, the climax even has Satya fighting while riding a horse. Herogiri kayaam rehni chahiye (Heroism should always be there)!

And while you’re still wrapping your head around all that you saw over the last two hours, Salman Khan makes his splashing entry as Agent Bhai Jaan. He not only attempts some whistle-worthy action stunts but also, in his inimitable style, delivers his jokes. However, his interaction with Varun Dhawan, where the latter questions him about his decision to be a parent, is quite candid. The sequence also gives an insight into the warm bond between both actors.

As already mentioned, the film reeks of Atlee’s style and there are times when you feel like you are watching a different version of Jawan – be it Varun Dhawan’s police officer avatar, pigeons flying during the hero’s entry, or the love song between the lead couple. Given that the original film came eight years ago, the makers seem to overlook how much the world has changed and evolved since then. There are moments and unintentionally funny dialogues, especially because they are literal translations of the Tamil film. For instance, Satya tells Meera that she is not only his wife but also a mother to him. Not kidding, I almost choked on my caramel popcorn.

Coming to our Baby John, Varun Dhawan – the actor gives an earnest performance and also seems to really have a lot of fun on-screen. There are a few scenes, one with Sanya Malhotra, that are genuinely entertaining. However, his character, even though likeable, is too cocky to play such a righteous police officer. After killing the minister’s son, the way he mocks the father seems really unjustified. Even his conversation with Meera’s father, where he calls himself a Gandhian cop, only to indulge in an over-the-top gunfight, is amusing. Varun’s character is actually more gimmicks than substance, making you feel sorry for the actor. He could have done wonders if it had been a well-written part.

Keerthy Suresh looks so beautiful on-screen that it’s hard to take your eyes off her. However, her character has too many loose strings, making it ineffectual. Wamiqa Gabbi, on the other hand, is quite wasted, and her performance, too, is unimpressive. Her action scenes seem forced into the plot, and she and Varun lack chemistry as well.

Jackie Shroff impresses with his menacing character, but his role, too, leaves you unsatisfied. However, his swag and style, especially how he perches up on his seat, adds so much to the part. The surprise factor of Baby John, however, is Rajpal Yadav. He not only gets to do some action but, when mocked over his comedy, exclaims, “Comedy is serious business” – a line that got the loudest cheers in the cinema hall.

Another highlight of Baby John is its music and background score by composer S Thaman. While ‘Nain Matakka’ and the title track are already chartbusters, ‘Bandobast’ and ‘Hazaar Baar’ have also been picturised beautifully, making your experience enjoyable. The background score too adds to the narrative, showing the magic of sound.

Where the film fails is in its attempt to cater to the mass genre with its heroism and masala. The makers do touch upon poignant issues like women’s safety, but everything feels superficial and choreographed. Even with high-speed shots, the scenes don’t evoke the emotional impact they should. And that’s probably why you never truly feel invested in the narrative.

Baby John could either benefit from the withdrawal symptoms fans are experiencing after Pushpa 2: The Rule or lose the battle to Allu Arjun’s mass-actioner.

3 out of 5 stars for Baby John.