‘Bazooka’ movie review: Mammootty’s swag and galvanising suspense, thrill

Mammootty has done it time and again. Yet, what makes him tick even after close to 450 films is his invincible passion for more action before the arc lights. He has done everything — from the sword fights of the medieval era to the noir narratives of the new generation. Still, legions of film buffs wait restlessly for each of his outings simply because of his magic.

Deeno Dennis, in his directorial debut, casts the Megastar in a role he has never reprised before. A hybrid gaming universe involving established and fictitious games sets the platform for this crime-suspense-action rollercoaster. The conmen operate from an invisible dark underworld, unleashing a series of plunders — each time leaving behind hard-to-crack clues (the reason for which is yet unknown) for the police.

The supercop ACP of Kochi, Benjamin Joshua, played by Gautham Vasudev Menon, and his team of efficient pros act in time, displaying rare brilliance, but unfortunately fail to nab the culprits.

However, the way they read the hints and uncover the trail of criminal intentions is mind-boggling. Meanwhile, we might wonder what John Ceasar, played by Mammootty — a self-proclaimed forensic expert in the guise of a chartered accountant named Aryan Arya — has to do with the whole story.

Most of the plot is narrated through a conversation between John Ceasar and Sunny Verghese (Hakkim Shah) during a journey on a luxury bus from Kochi to Bengaluru. What stands out is that the tale packs every element for a cinematic feast — jestful ripostes and slapstick for comedy, swag and style amplified by slo-mos and pulsating background scores for thrill, action sequences (though many have no direct link to the main plot), intense and powerful dialogues and one-liners, gunfire, chases, acrobatics, and more.

At times, the serious scheming sequences might put you in a stupor, but a slight effort to concentrate pulls you right back into the trope and helps you track the procedures. Meanwhile, the last twenty minutes deliver edge-of-the-seat thrill and suspense. You witness Mammootty in a never-seen-before avatar and a matchless performance. Pray you don’t recall Jack Nicholson or Joaquin Phoenix in those moments.

Some occasions might prompt you to question the link between the opening scene and the rest of the story, or the logic behind certain sequences. But by the time the end credits roll, there’s a sense of satisfaction in seeing how all the dots connect and how the mystery around ‘Bazooka’ unravels.

Mammootty’s high-octane action, Hakkim’s naturalistic reactions, and Gautham Menon’s polished English lines are some of the other takeaways from this captivating film.