Baby John Review: Varun Dhawan Starrer Is Proof That Not All Films Need A Remake

‘Baby John’ disappoints on multiple levels. Save your money and time – watch the original ‘Theri’ on YouTube instead.

Remaking a film that's already available on YouTube in Hindi dub takes courage – but making a lackluster remake of it? That’s ‘Baby John’ for you. This movie is a remake of the 2016 Tamil film Theri, but it doesn’t come close to the original. In ‘Baby John’, Varun Dhawan feels more like “Baby” than “John.” One of Varun’s lines in the film says – “Many like me have come before, but I’m here for the first time.” Unfortunately, that’s not true. Thalapathy Vijay has already done this role and left a mark. But here, the only thing that lasts for 2 hours and 40 minutes is the headache for the audience.

Plot – Predictable and Outdated

There are no spoilers to worry about because the original 'Theri' is available on YouTube, and the full story is on Wikipedia. Varun Dhawan plays a DCP who kills the son of a powerful man after he rapes and murders a girl. In retaliation, Jackie Shroff’s character kills Varun’s wife and mother, believing he has killed Varun and his daughter too. However, Varun survives and quits the police force, living a simple life with his daughter. But the antagonist returns, and what follows forms the crux of the story. While this plot may have felt relevant in 2016, it feels outdated and stale today.

A Step Back in Action Cinema

A comparison to the original was inevitable. The filmmakers claimed this was an adaptation, not a remake, but many scenes are frame-by-frame copies. The action feels old-school, and in a time when action films have evolved, ‘Baby John’ lags behind. Recently, Malayalam cinema’s ‘Marco’ raised the bar for violence and action choreography. In contrast, the action scenes in ‘Baby John’, especially those involving Salman Khan and Varun Dhawan, look artificial. Vijay’s presence in ‘Theri’ was electrifying, but Varun Dhawan doesn’t match up. Every scene reminds you of the original, and even if you haven’t watched ‘Theri’, this film doesn’t hold your attention. Some sequences come across as childish, even laughable. The poorly placed, irritating songs further test the audience’s patience. Ultimately, you feel like revisiting the original rather than sitting through this version.

Acting – A Missed Opportunity for Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan, though talented, doesn’t do justice to the role. His hard work was evident in ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’, but that was under the guidance of Raj and DK. Here, the director fails to mold Varun’s character. His performance feels like a mix of ‘Singham’, ‘Simmba’, and ‘Sooryavanshi’, without establishing a unique identity. Knowing comparisons to Vijay were inevitable, Varun appears lackluster. Vamika Gabbi’s dialogue delivery feels awkward, and she struggles to impress. Keerthy Suresh is passable, while Jackie Shroff stands out as a formidable villain. The real star, however, is Zara Zyanna, who plays Varun’s daughter. She steals the show and is the true "baby" of this film.

Direction – Kalees Fails to Deliver

The original ‘Theri’ was directed by Atlee, while ‘Baby John' was helmed by Kalees. Unfortunately, Kalees fails to create magic. His promise to present Varun in a unique action avatar falls flat. Now, it seems both the audience and Varun will want to forget this film. Despite having three writers – Atlee, Kalees, and Sumit Arora – the screenplay feels uninspired. It’s baffling why three writers were needed for a story that already existed. If they were going to rewrite it, they could have at least done a better job.

Music – Adding to the Disappointment

Thaman S’ music makes a bad film worse. The songs feel unnecessary and disrupt the flow, testing the audience’s patience further.

Final Verdict

‘Baby John’ disappoints on multiple levels. Save your money and time – watch the original ‘Theri’ on YouTube instead.