Varun Dhawan takes a bold turn as an action hero in his most recent film, Baby John. Even though the film's disorganised plot frequently seems like a "headless chicken," Dhawan's dedication and the action-packed scenes manage to provide moments of pure amusement.
The story begins with Baby John, who resides in a charming area of Kerala with his small daughter Khushi (Zara Zyanna). He stays out of arguments, but one day a police officer calls him "Satya," and you know there is a backstory. Rewind to six years prior. IPS Satya Varma, a wonderful man who believes in "positive vibes alone," is introduced to us. When a teenage girl is raped and killed by Nanaji (Jackie Shroff), the son of a powerful man, he is devastated. The rest of the narrative is what follows. If you have not seen Theri yet, giving away anything else would prevent you from seeing the movie for yourself.
There is no soul for almost forty minutes of the picture, which begins on a very abrupt tone. The cute girl bossing around her dad has little effect, and there is no sense of direction. This is the plot that Atlee, who previously directed Jawan and Theri, is in charge of. It appears that his favourite hero is the one who plays two roles. He did the same with Jawan's Shah Rukh Khan.
It is not until the elevation sequence near the interval that the fun starts. In Baby John, Varun, who is OK overall, settles in after an extended delay. The atmospherics after interval and Thaman S.'s background score are really helpful. The uninteresting music he wrote is what doesn't.
Visually, the film is a spectacle, with elaborate set pieces and high-energy cinematography. The background score amplifies the action, though at times it feels overly dramatic.
Despite its flaws, Baby John succeeds in one key aspect: entertainment. The film embraces its own absurdity, making it a guilty pleasure for viewers who enjoy mindless fun. Dhawan’s star power ensures that the audience remains engaged even when the plot loses its way.
Critics may label Baby John as a misfire, but it's a wild ride worth taking for fans of unrelenting action and Dhawan’s charisma. Whether it will mark Dhawan’s successful transition into a bona fide action star remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly showcases his versatility as an actor.
