Bad Boy (UA)

Miami detectives Mike and Marcus must recover $100 million worth of heroin stolen from their own headquarters within five days, or else their narcotics division will be shut down. Marcus poses as Mike to gain the trust of a witness who may have information.

Bad Boy, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, follows the familiar tropes of his comedy capers. Raghu, a carefree and comical youth (Namashi Chakraborty), falls in love with Rituparna, a simple yet educated girl (Amrin). However, Rituparna's strict father, Banerjee (Saswat Chatterjee), becomes a hurdle, setting conditions for their marriage. In order to prove his worth, Raghu must run Banerjee's household for a month, leading to a series of challenges and comic mishaps. The first half of the film offers nothing particularly new, focusing on Raghu's attempts to win over Rituparna and meet her father's demands. The story employs typical Bollywood formulae, including the rags-to-riches trope, which feels contrived at times. The second half picks up pace with the arrival of veteran actor Johnny Lever, whose impeccable comic timing injects humor into every scene. While director Rajkumar Santoshi manages the film satisfactorily, the screenplay occasionally loses momentum. The overall narrative feels familiar, reminiscent of Bollywood films we've seen before. However, the movie does have funny dialogues and enjoyable moments, particularly in the later part. Debutants Namashi and Amrin display good chemistry and screen presence, showing promise for their future careers. Namashi impresses in emotional scenes and showcases his father, Mithun Chakraborty's influence. Amrin is visually pleasing and delivers a sincere performance. While Saswat Chakraborty's portrayal of the stern father feels one-dimensional, Rajesh Sharma brings depth to his character. Despite its predictable premise and treatment, Bad Boy may appeal to younger audiences and those seeking light-hearted romantic comedy. It can be considered as a one-time watch.