If there’s one thing that Bollywood loves, it has to be remakes—Baby John is the latest installment on the list. Kalees helms this film, which is a remake of the Tamil movie Theri. On the one hand, it lays some punches (literally, of course) and goes easy on Varun Dhawan in an action-flick avatar; on the other hand, it completely fails in emotional depth or storytelling finesse. Let’s unpack this, shall we?
Movie Guide:
Release Date: 25 December, 2024
Run Time: 2 hours 41mins
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama
Certificate Type: UA
Language: Hindi/ 2D
Movie Cast: Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff, Rajpal Yadav
IMDB: 7.1/10
Bookmyshow: 7.1/10
The Story: Promising Start, but an Uneven Ride
So, the first half of the movie totally gets things rolling for this intense action-drama. Varun Dhawan plays two roles: Baby John, who’s a serious vigilante, and Satya, this chill family guy. Pretty cool, huh? It is. at first. The action scenes, especially the ones with Jackie Shroff, have this awesome vibe that you just can’t miss.
But here’s the thing—once the movie hits the second half, everything starts to fall apart. The script has a tough time juggling emotional moments with the action, and it kinda feels like it’s speeding through everything. By the time we get to the big climax, you’re just left thinking if the director was trying to squeeze too much into one flick.
The Highlights:
Performances: Varun Totally Shines, But…
Varun Dhawan really goes all out in the film. As Baby John, he’s tough, intense, and totally commanding—just what you’d expect from a big action movie. But when he’s Satya, his emotional moments kinda fall flat. It’s not all on him, though. The direction and the script don’t give him much to play with, so those emotional moments feel more forced than genuine.
So, Keerthi Suresh, who is the female lead in the movie, kinda doesn’t really stand out much. It’s a bummer because her character is sort of pushed aside for most of it, and she could’ve really brought something special to the story. But on the bright side, the young actress playing Varun Dhawan’s daughter is just adorable—her cuteness and charm totally brighten up the screen.
Hey, can we just take a moment to give it up for Rajpal Yadav? Watching him in an action role is such a nice change and he absolutely nails every scene! On the flip side, Jackie Shroff is being his charming self, but honestly, his character feels kinda weak, making you want more from him.
Action and BGM: Some hits, some misses
The action scenes in the movie are kinda hit or miss. Some parts get really exciting and really hit you hard, but others seem rushed, not so well done. There’s this one awesome scene where Varun’s Baby John really gets to show off, but unfortunately, there just aren’t enough of those cool moments.
And then there’s the background music (BGM). Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The Baby John theme (which is weirdly called “Beast Mode”) will totally get you grooving in your seat, but the rest of the soundtrack seems to be forcing it a bit to keep up with the movie’s vibe.
The Salman Khan Cameo: Yay or Nay?
So, you know that Salman Khan cameo everyone’s buzzing about? It’s kinda like when you’re at a nice restaurant and instead of dessert, they bring you a melted popsicle. Sure, it’s there and super noticeable, but it seriously doesn’t do anything for the movie. Honestly, it feels so random that it totally yanks you out of the story.
What Flops: Where the Movie Drops the Ball
The biggest problem with the film, is that it just doesn’t have much emotional depth. The screenplay zooms through important moments, giving hardly any space for the characters to grow. The romantic subplot between Varun and Keerthi feels pretty unconvincing, and the emotional scenes just don’t hit as hard as they should to really connect.
Editing’s a bit of a letdown too. The shifts between the past and present are pretty rough, and some scenes from the trailer – like that church fight—aren’t even in the final version. Major bummer.
Should you bother watching it?
So is Baby John worth a look? Honestly, it’s a one-time thing. If you are a Varun Dhawan fan, then it would give you a kick to see him break out of his regular vibe and take on the role in an action-packed kind of way. The film has its moments—cool action scenes, some nice father-daughter moments, and a soundtrack that stays with you long after you’re done watching.
But if you’re on the hunt for a movie that really hits you in the feels and has a solid story, you might end up feeling kinda let down. In the end, Baby John is like a rollercoaster that kicks off with a big thrill but kind of loses steam before it makes a real impact.
Check it out for Varun and the action but do not expect much. Fun at times but it sure ain’t going to blow your mind.