After multiple delays and postponements, Bazooka, starring Megastar Mammootty and Gautham Vasudev Menon, has been released in theatres clashing with Good Bad Ugly, Alappuzha Gymkhana and Marana Mass. Helmed by debut director Deeno Dennis, this film promises a game thriller. The trailer has gathered a lot of hype from fans despite minimal promotions. How well has Deeno Dennis done on debut with an actor of Mammootty’s stature?
The film shows us how ACP Benjamin Joshua (Gautham Vasudev Menon) has to catch a group of criminals who uses video games to commit robberies around the city and how former forensic expert John Caesar (Mammootty) helps to decipher the clues given to them by the perpetrator and find the ultimate goal of the robbers. The story is narrated through conversations on a bus between Caesar and Sunny Varghese (Hakkim Shah), the passenger sitting next to him.
Story & Screenplay:
Deeno Dennis has attempted something very different from the usual thrillers Malayalam cinema is known for but this one falls flat due to a poorly written screenplay. The screenplay takes a slow pace to narrate the events of the story and begins to pick up in the second half. The screenplay is a complete mishmash of events with unnecessary action sequences and poorly written dialogues majorly in English which makes it unappealing.
Direction:
While Deeno Dennis can be praised for his attempt to film a different kind of thriller but has gone wrong on his debut, the investigation scenes are very lacklustre which can test the audience’s patience with the poorly written dialogues and poorly executed action sequences. The positive in this Deeno’s direction is the last 30 minutes where the film has picked up pace.
Technical Aspects:
In a film where its screenplay and direction have fallen flat, the visuals and VFX have been done well which has made this film watchable. Nimish Ravi has done well in using Mammootty’s screen presence and has elevated certain scenes with good visual frames.
Performances:
Mammootty has done what was required of him in this film but his potential is limited here due to poor writing and direction. Considering the run he has had of late with outstanding performances in movies like Bramayugam, Turbo, Kaathal- The Core, Rorschach and Kannur Squad, this role is nothing special. Gautham Vasudev Menon has been wrongly cast in this movie as he fails to deliver dialogues in Malayalam. Unfortunately, there’s very limited scope for the rest of the actors to make an impact.
Music & Background Score:
Despite all its flaws, the music by Saeed Abbas has been brilliant and has been able to elevate the dull moments in the film and make this a watchable film.
Final Verdict:
Bazooka is a unique attempt by Deeno Dennis in an intriguing subject but his attempt falls flat due to poor writing and direction. Despite the great visuals, music and Mammootty’s performance, the film serves as an average watch for the neutral audience. I would recommend skipping this in theatres and watching it at your discretion on OTT platforms.
Rating: 2.5/5
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