Baby John

“Not that it does not try, but all its vim and vigour, delivered in the form of noisy, overwrought driblets, come to naught”

“After sitting through this bloated, cacophonous, derivative, incoherent mess, you feel like telling lead actor Varun Dhawan, who is all wrong for this kind of film, that he needn't have bothered. Baby John bids fair to claim the title of the worst film of 2024, a year when big, starry Bollywood tanked well and truly.”

“An adaptation of Atlee's Theri, Baby John is the perfect commercial entertainer backed by strong emotions and Varun Dhawan's massiest avatar.”

“...a mass entertainer which works due to the clapworthy moments, the message, Varun Dhawan’s energetic performance and the cameo by Salman Khan. At the box office, the film will benefit owing to the long holiday period and no competition until Republic Day.”

“While Baby John boasts commendable performances, it falls short of being a compelling thriller due to its lackluster plot and uneven pacing. However, the film falters in its writing and direction. The plot feels stretched, with a sluggish first half that echoes Akshay Kumar's Rowdy Rathore.”

“Varun Dhawan, Wamiqa Gabbi and Jackie Shroff’s film has all the qualities of a successful big screen Bollywood blockbuster, but lacks crisp storytelling.”

“Baby John is a commercial entertainer with an overdose of mass moments. The performances of lead cast make the film enjoyable.”

“The movie has its moments as an actioner, but in terms of content and narrative, it could have more.”

“Baby John is a good attempt at fan service. But, offers nothing fresh and exciting. It is high time to redefine mass actioners that come from South filmmakers.”

“Baby John attempts to tackle a serious social issue but falls short due to its superficial treatment and over-reliance on overused narrative tropes. While the action sequences and background score are commendable, the film fails to provide a nuanced or innovative take on its subject matter.”

“Varun Dhawan puts on the southern swag in a film desperate for mass appeal.”

“In Baby John, Varun Dhawan shines in parts, but the film ultimately falls flat.”

“While a good amount of buzz was generated to witness the combo of Varun and Atlee coming together, on the other hand, expectations were rife about whether the movie would be able to stand out with its own essence and entertainment value. However, while VD makes a brutally honest effort, the film succumbs to a shoddy execution and plot holes that stick out like a sore thumb.”

“The film starts off on a very choppy note, and there's no soul for about 40 minutes. There's no sense of direction, and the cute girl bossing around her dad has no effect. Overall, there's nothing much that makes Baby John stand out apart from the action.”