Review: Baby John - Commercial Meter is on

 

Movie: Baby John
Rating:3/5

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, Rajpal Yadav, Sheebha Chaddha, and Others

Director: Atlee

Produced By: Jio Studios, Cine1 Studios, Vipin Agnihotri Films, A for Apple Studios

Release Date: December 25, 2024

Story:

John D’Silva, played by Varun Dhawan, runs a bakery and is a devoted single father to his daughter Khushi, portrayed by Zara Zyanna. Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi), her teacher, tries to complain against a woman trafficking gang and drives her to the police station in John's van, unexpectedly exposing John's history as the brave cop DCP Satya Verma. With his true identity revealed, John faces off against his arch-enemy, the feared criminal Nana (Jackie Shroff), who is out for vengeance over his son's demise. To protect Khushi from imminent danger, John has to confront his past once again.

Performances:

Varun Dhawan showcases his talent by effectively balancing the shades of a nurturing father and a fearless policeman. His performance brings richness and authenticity to the otherwise expected storyline. Keerthy Suresh was fine in her role, while Wamiqa Gabbi captivates audiences with her on-screen charisma, yet the details of her character's past as an undercover officer are mishandled. As John's trusted companion, Rajpal Yadav displays a neat performance and he has more than comedy to offer. Jackie Shroff's intimidating portrayal of Nana creates a memorable impact, fully utilizing his time on screen. Sheebha Chaddha was fine as the hero's mother. 

What worked for the film:

The charming relationship between John and Khushi establishes the mood of the film, complemented by playful scenes with Tara. The movie includes amusing moments, highlighted by playful self-references like Satya questioning a goon about the fastest creature, receiving the answer, 'Bhediya, you probably know,' alluding to Varun's horror-comedy. Also, in a crucial scene in the second half, Rajpal Yadav takes a surprising route and says, "Comedy is a Serious Business", which worked very well. The stunt choreography delivers thrilling sequences while the cinematography enhances the experience with stylish camera angles.

What did not work for the film:

Atlee, Sumit Arora, and Kalees present a tale that relies on familiar storytelling techniques, including the exploitation of children by kidnappers and the emergence of a hero battling against wrongdoing. Satya's relationship with the doctor, Meera (Keerthy Suresh), comes across as predictable. After a good opening sequence, the first half's narrative gets dull and it picks up the momentum when Nana's son does a heinous crime prompting Satya to seek justice.

Baby John Review and Verdict:

Baby John features every aspect of a perfect commercial entertainer: action, emotions, and love story. Though the setup is routine, the film engages for most of the parts. The second half works well with stunning action sequences. The emotional aspect could have been explored better.