Baby John: Action, Emotion, but No Punch!

Life can be like a perfectly iced cake sweet on the surface but with hidden layers that reveal the bitter truths of existence. Baby John, directed by Kalees and starring Varun Dhawan and Keerthy Suresh, serves up this metaphor in a classic action-drama format. However, much like a baker experimenting with a tried-and-tested recipe, the film occasionally struggles to find the right balance.

John D’Silva (Varun Dhawan) appears to be a humble bakery owner and a doting single father to his daughter, Khushi (Zara Zyanna). Their lives brim with warmth and lighthearted charm until Khushi’s schoolteacher, Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi), inadvertently blows the lid off John’s secret past as DCP Satya Verma a fearless cop who buried his badge to protect his daughter. When his old nemesis, Nana (Jackie Shroff), resurfaces, seeking revenge, John must dust off his supercop persona to save Khushi from the clutches of danger.

The narrative oscillates between John’s current life and the flashbacks of his daring cop days, yet these transitions often feel disjointed. While the premise brims with potential, the execution falters, relying on predictable tropes: child trafficking villains, vengeful fathers, and a hero donning his cape for justice. Even Satya’s romance with Meera (Keerthy Suresh) feels like a checklist item rather than a heartfelt subplot.

Comparisons to Atlee’s Tamil blockbuster Theri are inevitable. While Theri exuded emotional depth, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu delivering a memorable performance as Vijay’s love interest, Keerthy Suresh’s portrayal in Baby John feels underwritten. Keerthy’s role as Meera lacks the charm and depth Samantha brought to her character, making the emotional beats less impactful. However, Keerthy shines in her limited screen time, especially in moments requiring subtlety.

Varun Dhawan excels as John/Satya, juggling the tenderness of a loving father and the grit of a fearless cop. Wamiqa Gabbi impresses with her screen presence, although her character’s undercover cop angle deserved more exploration. Jackie Shroff’s portrayal of Nana is delightfully sinister, while Rajpal Yadav offers a surprising mix of comic relief and emotional heft as Sevakram.

Visually, the film is a treat. Kiran Koushik’s cinematography heightens the action with sleek camera work and dazzling pyrotechnics. Yet, despite its technical finesse and occasional clever self-referential humor like Satya’s nod to Varun’s Bhediya the screenplay struggles to maintain a consistent tone.

Final Verdict: Baby John is like a cake you’ve had before it looks great and has its moments of sweetness but doesn’t leave you craving more. While Varun Dhawan’s earnest performance and some engaging action sequences make it a watchable entertainer, it lacks the emotional and narrative punch of its predecessor, Theri.