BAzooka(2025) - “Mass over matter — a glossy game with missing controls.”
Directed by: Deeno Dennis
Written by: Deeno Dennis
Starring: Mammootty, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Sharaf U Dheen, Sunny Wayne
Cinematography: Nimish Ravi, Roby Varghese Raj
Edited by: Nishadh Yusuf, Praveen Prabhakar
Music by: Saeed Abbas
Language: Malayalam
Genre: Action, Thriller
Country: India
Plot Summary
Bazooka follows Benjamin Joshua, a fearless police officer from Kochi, chasing down a string of high-profile robberies orchestrated by a gang using video game logic to plan their crimes. Assisting him is John Caesar, a retired forensic expert and ethical hacker, whose past seems as loaded as the present mystery. As Benjamin closes in, the game becomes personal — and dangerously unpredictable.
Review Breakdown
Performances
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Mammootty does what he always does — dominates. Cool, composed, and intense when needed. His screen presence is the film’s biggest asset.
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Gautham Vasudev Menon makes a solid impact, especially in his entry and a few face-off scenes. But his potential is underused — his character could’ve added much more to the narrative.
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Supporting cast is decent. They don’t falter, but no one stands out. With Mammukka and GVM in the frame, they understandably take the backseat.
Direction & Writing
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Deeno Dennis goes all in for style over substance. The film looks sleek, sounds cool, but lacks gripping storytelling.
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The first half struggles with pacing and fails to build strong emotional stakes.
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Thriller elements feel diluted, especially in key moments that needed tighter tension and buildup.
Music & Technical Aspects
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BGM is decent. Does the job, but never elevates the film beyond its surface-level engagement.
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Production value is top-tier — stylish visuals, well-framed shots, good color grading. Technically polished.
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Editing could’ve been sharper. Several scenes drag and add no real weight to the plot, especially in the second act.
Strengths
✅ Mammootty’s magnetic performance
✅ Stylish visual treatment
✅ GVM’s screen presence and setup
✅ Decent final act with a few impactful reveals
Weaknesses
❌ Missing the thrill in this so-called thriller
❌ Predictable storyline and weak twists
❌ Flat emotional engagement – especially in key scenes
❌ Underused characters (GVM, especially)
❌ Rushed climax that doesn’t tie up all threads
My Personal Take on Cinema
Bazooka is the kind of film that starts with promise, especially with the star power it boasts, but ends up feeling like a missed opportunity. It’s stylish, no doubt, and tries hard to be slick and edgy. But the heart and thrill are just not there. You walk out feeling like you played the game — but skipped the best levels.
It’s watchable for Mammootty fans and for its production quality, but don't expect a gripping thriller. For a film about a strategic game of cat and mouse, it leaves too many pieces off the board.
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