Bazooka Movie Review: Visual flair can’t compensate for a hollow story despite Mammootty’s efforts

A cop, a gamer and a game of clues
Set in Kochi, the story kicks off with ACP Benjamin Joshua (Gautham Vasudev Menon), a tough cop tasked with cleaning up the city's escalating crime scene, dominated by drug rings and tech-savvy criminals. He begins his mission with the help of a competent team, showing early signs of success.

Things take a turn when a mysterious gamer begins sending him cryptic clues—via SMS, emails, couriers, and even faxes—about future robberies. Despite their efforts, Benjamin’s team is outplayed at every step. This sets the stage for John Caesar (Mammootty), a former forensic expert and Benjamin’s old friend, to step in and help bring the elusive gamer to justice. The cat-and-mouse dynamic, which should have been thrilling, rarely rises above the routine.

Mammootty saves the day
The only saving grace in this otherwise dull film is Mammootty. His tech-savvy, ponytailed character with a signature style—jeans, vintage motorcycle, and dark shades—offers some freshness. It’s a role that once again showcases his versatility and willingness to take risks.

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast doesn’t match up. Most performances come off as lifeless, with Gautham Menon’s portrayal of ACP Benjamin Joshua being especially flat and robotic, rarely deviating from a single expression throughout the runtime. There’s an overall lack of energy in the ensemble that dampens even the rare moments of tension or intrigue.

Flawed heists and pointless scenes
One of the film’s biggest issues is its unimaginative heist sequences. These robberies, supposedly the film’s main hook, are neither clever nor engaging. A number of scenes feel pointless and could’ve been removed without affecting the narrative.

Random moments, like Mammootty’s character beating up bikers or a man making an unnecessary comment about bus fare on a bus to Bangalore, feel unimportant and lack any narrative payoff.

The temple sequence overstays its welcome, and the absence of a compelling villain is sorely felt. The antagonist’s cryptic messages do little to create intrigue. In fact, some scenes border on parody—especially a moment during the trophy theft sequence where Benjamin identifies a suspect from CCTV footage in a room full of people, despite him being the only one on screen wearing a Sachin Tendulkar mask.

A climax that comes too late
It’s only in the final stretch that the film starts to piece itself together, revealing the identity of the mysterious gamer. By then, though, the over-stylized treatment has become exhausting and repetitive.

The interval twist lands with a thud, failing to build suspense or curiosity. While the cinematography and editing are sleek and polished, they can't cover up the lack of storytelling or emotional depth. In the end, it feels like the director is playing a solo game—dribbling and scoring to his own rhythm but never delivering a real slam dunk. 'Bazooka' ends up being a film that plays by its own rules but forgets to bring the audience along for the ride.

Cast: Mammootty, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Hakkim Shah, and Divya Pillai Director: Deeno Dennis Rating: 2/5