Baby John

Baby John feels like a feverishly hurried version of Theri. It doesn’t let the characters marinate and is too eager to get to the conflict. The build-up is often half-baked, and the action, when it comes, is underwhelming. I expected Varun to dial up his goofy charm with this one, but there seems to be an unseen weight of becoming an action star on his shoulders. He jettisons his personality and seems to be aping his South Indian counterparts. Jackie Shroff, as the nemesis Nanaji, with his frail frame and thinning dreadlocks, looks menacing but never feels like a formidable antagonist. There is a feeble, even absurdist, attempt to give Wamiqa Gabbi’s character Tara (Khushi’s teacher and John’s potential flame in the film) more agency than her counterpart in Theri (played by Amy Jackson). It turns out to be odd and illogical.

Despite its potential, Baby John suffers from a lack of depth in its narrative, particularly in dealing with the grave issue of women's exploitation. The story feels formulaic, relying heavily on clichés which do not offer any new perspective or depth to the topic. Unnecessary scenes, like the one where Baby John confronts a group of drunkards in a school classroom, disrupt the film's flow. The placement of songs is jarring, affecting the movie's pacing and coherence. The second half of the film lacks the light-hearted moments present in the first. This leads to an uneven tone throughout. Additionally, there are no surprises or unique elements that could elevate the film beyond the ordinary.

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.