Imagine being served a buffet full of spicy food that overwhelms your taste buds. 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 repeat of the Thalapathy Vijay-starrer. Hence, each frame resembles the vision of Atlee, director of the original 2016 Tamil film and presenter of Baby John. However, the biggest highlight is Salman Khan’s cameo and his banter with Varun Dhawan, which somehow reflects the superstar’s swag in his own sweet way.

The film, directed by Kelly, centers on John (Dhawan), who is living a normal life with his daughter Khushi (the stunning Zara Zianna). His school teacher (Vamika Gabbi) pays attention to him. As you wait for some sweet romance, we see the otherwise meek John fold his lungi, kicking a dozen villains in his ass. This is when we learn that he is Satya Verma – a former righteous policeman who ruffles the feathers of a corrupt minister (Jackie Shroff), leading to the tragic murder of his wife Meera (Keerthy Suresh) and mother (Sheeba Chaddha). It’s done. ,

Faking his death, he leaves the service and goes to another part of the country to fulfill his wife’s last wish. But once i commitment cardi, then main panel (Once I made the commitment, I,…you get the drift, right?

The polite father soon returns as a stylish supercop and becomes the new protector of society. Ultimately, like any Indian film, he also succeeds in beating the villain to death. In Baby John, the hero and his five-year-old child also get a chance to preach to the villain. And the thing to remember is that in the climax, Satya is also fighting while riding a horse. Heroism must continue (Bravery should last forever)!

Here is the trailer:

And while you’re still thinking about everything you saw in the last two hours, Salman Khan makes his explosive entry as Agent Bhai Jaan. He not only attempts some spectacular action stunts but also cracks jokes in his unique style. However, her conversation with Varun Dhawan, where Varun questions her about her decision to become a parent, is quite candid. This sequence also gives an insight into the warm relationship between the two actors.

As already mentioned, the film smacks of Atlee’s style and at times it feels like you are watching a different version of the jawan – be it Varun Dhawan’s police officer avatar during the hero’s entry. Be it pigeons flying, or a love song between the lead pair. , Considering that the original film came out eight years ago, the producers are ignoring how much the world has changed and evolved since then. There are some moments and unintentionally funny dialogues, especially because they are literal translations of the Tamil film. For example, 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.

Talking about our Baby John, Varun Dhawan – the actor gives a serious performance and is also seen having a lot of fun on screen. There are a few scenes, including one with Sanya Malhotra, which are really entertaining. However, his character, despite being likable, is too egotistical to play such a noble police officer. The way he made fun of the father after the murder of the minister’s son seems really inappropriate. Even his conversation with Meera’s father is entertaining, where he calls himself a Gandhian cop who only gets involved in extreme shootouts. Varun’s character is actually more gimmick than substance, which will make you feel sorry for the actor. Had it been a well-written part it could have done wonders.

Keerthy Suresh looks so beautiful onscreen that it is difficult to take our eyes off her. However, there are too many loose strings in her character, making it ineffective. On the other hand, Vamika Gabbi is quite weak and her performance is also not impressive. Her action scenes seem forced into the plot and there is a lack of chemistry between her and Varun.

Jackie Shroff impresses with his dangerous character, but his role also leaves you dissatisfied. However, his swag and style, especially the way he sits in his seat, adds a lot to the character. However, the surprise factor of Baby John is Rajpal Yadav. Not only does he get a chance to do some action, but when his comedy is mocked, he shouts, “Comedy is a serious business” – a line that got the biggest applause in the cinema hall.

Another highlight of Baby John is its music and the background score by composer S Thaman. While ‘Nain Matakka’ and the title track are already chartbusters, ‘Bandobast’ and ‘Hazar Baar’ have also been beautifully picturized, making your experience engrossing. The background score also adds to the story by showcasing the magic of sound.

Where the film fails is in its attempt to cater to the mass genre with its heroics and masala. The makers touch on touchy issues like women’s safety, but everything feels superficial and choreographed. Even with the high-speed shots, the scenes don’t create as much emotional impact as they should. And maybe that’s why you never feel invested in the narrative.

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

3 out of 5 stars for Baby John.