'Baaghi 3' movie review: The Tiger Shroff-starrer has stellar action but defies logic

Slo-mo walks are cool; unrealistic action sequences are engaging; acting being the least important thing in the film is also fine -- but not at the cost of story. Especially when the setting of the film reminds you of entertaining 'Tiger Zinda Hai', starring Salman Khan. I felt violated after watching 'Baaghi 3'. And if you have watched its trailer, you exactly know what to expect, and you kinda know what I am talking about. 

So there is a muscle-flexing hero, a cute heroine, some impressive actors - 'kyunki acting ki poori zimmedari unpe hi dalni hai', a bit of drama and emotion, an item song because 'thoda sex appeal bhi chahiye'. So what's left -- the story? But who cares?

Tiger pulls off insane stunts -- mostly unbelievable. Our hero single-handedly takes on Jaish-e-Lashkar (the name is an amalgamation of terrorist organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Voila!) by dodging thousands of bullets and landmines, sliding through under military tanks and fighting his gritty battle on the top of a flying helicopter. There are enough heavy-duty action sequences but none of them keeps you hooked.

Talking of our heroine -- she is so carefree that she storms into men's washroom and strolls in the middle of the road in search of network. Vodafone hai kya, didi? Riteish Deshmukh plays Ronny's bada bhai, Vikram Chandra Chaturvedi. He is that one man who can't take violence and cries even at the sight of it. He is timid and Ronny makes all his decision -- be it going in police or getting married. 

I wore a singular expression throughout 'Baaghi 3' -- no matter what they showed. Whether someone is dying, crying or dancing at the wedding, I couldn't help bring any expression to my face. 

There is a villain 'IPL' (another googly. Voila again!) played by supremely talented 'Raazi'-fame Jaideep Ahalawat who likes throwing riddles. He spouts dialogues like 'Kaun si maa hai jo ghoom ke wapas aati hai?"

He then marvels at his wit, and answers himself, "Kar-ma."

Haha!

There is a scene in which Shraddha gives CPR to Tiger, who is grievously injured -- with an iron rod stuck inside his stomach. Are you kidding me?

One more thing which left me baffled was Vijay Varma's character, who was Pakistani but with a Hyderabadi accent. Kuchh bhi. Also, I would like to know from Tiger's constume designer -- what was that loose piece of cloth hanging around his neck? 

For me, 'Baaghi 2' was unexpectedly good. You wanted to watch it till the end. But that's not the case in the third installment.

A few good things in 'Baaghi 3' are -- Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma (HOD of 'Baaghi 3's acting department), and Riteish's comic timing. Also, I would like to thank makers for showing at least one man who is vulnerable (Riteish, who cries at the drop of the hat), and some Hindustani-Pakistani bhaichara bit at the end.

There is a new genre in Indian cinema called "leave-your-brains-at-home action", courtesy a few recent films. And 'Baaghi 3' seems to be its latest offering. RIP logic. Watch 'Baaghi 3' for some inexplicable action, daring stunts, and only if you are a die-hard Tiger Shroff fan.