Baa Baaa Black Sheep review: Vishwaas Pandya's film more than three bags full of ham

Sample this scene: Just before the climax of Baa Baaa Black Sheep, Annu Kapoor is kidnapped (not too unwillingly) by henchmen. At the villain's den, he puts on a one-man show mimetic performance of being tortured and answering their questions all by himself. The villain claps. "Very nice," he says,"Itni acchi performance ke liye shoot him thrice."

Vishwaas Pandya's literary gems are littered throughout Baa Baaa Black Sheep. The film revolves around Baba aka Balbir Sharma (Maniesh Paul), a good for nothing 25-year-old flirting his way through Goa. He is the son of the henpecked Charudutt Sharma (Anupam Kher). Baba is in love with Angelina Morris (Manjari Fadnis), the feisty pretty daughter of Brian Morris (Annu Kapoor). 

On the surface, these are simple people living in the sunny, colourful climes of Goa. However, Charudutt Sharma moonlights as Charlie, a legendary contract killer with a penchant for killing criminals who escape the law. Brian Morris, on the other hand, is Santa Claus, a man who cons people by selling them fake masterpieces by Renoir, Da Vinci, and Brueghel. On Baba's 25th birthday, Charlie decides to induct him as the 13th generation of his family of contract killers. After his initial hesitation, Baba looks to have finally made it as a contract killer with a conscience. Just then, he receives the contract of Brian Morris. Therein, as the bard would say, lies the rub. To tie it all up, arrives Shivraj Naik (Kay Kay Menon), a dry, caustic ACP looking to clean up the tourist town. 

Pandya's film is a haphazard plot that runs in every direction at whim. Throw in the very bad dialogues and conversations, and that is leaving out the mesmerizing loopholes in the film. For all the conscientious killing that Charlie does, he uses bombs to kill his victims. Even by illogical standards, it would be an expensive proposition for a contract killer. Leave alone the idea of a contract killer who never uses his mobile phone in the entire film.

There is also the poor dialogue and screenplay by Pandya himself. From cliched lines to half-baked characters, and a loose plot, there are enough flaws in the script (what is a Punjabi family doing living in a villa in Goa?) which might not have passed the grade at Kher's acting school. The annoying interruption of songs makes the plodding screenplay seem even more cumbersome. Despite that, there are certain quirky elements which might have worked in a better script. 

But let's not bring logic to a rave party. The film does have a powerful cast of actors. Between Annu Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Kay Kay Menon, the film did have enough acting talent to outdo every other flaw. However, as life goes, things don't always happen the way you expect them to. 

To use the words of Ben Stiller's Tugg Speedman from Tropic Thunder (2008), Kher goes 'full retard'. Using the twin personalities (of the daredevil assassin and the henpecked 'Dattu' husband), the veteran unleashes on the screen the complete repertoire of his acting abilities that were last seen in films like Chatur Singh Two Star (2011) and Mr. Bhatti on Chutti (2012). The actor recently spent time with Robert 'Bob' De Niro in New York. Now, at least, he can claim to have something that matches Bob's own Meet The Fockers (2004). 

The veteran is not alone in this. Annu Kapoor, another National Award winner, spends most of the film dressed in costume as Santa Claus and speaking in heavily accented English. The veteran is another actor guilty of hamming his part, but does it with such sincerity that it evokes admiration. As Camus would say, one must presume Sisyphus to be happy. 

As for Manish Paul, he might have a snappy comic timing, but he is no Ryan Reynolds. The actor tries hard to break the fourth wall, but it is not a kind experience for the other side. He gets his opportunity to show off his pecs, and romance the girl, but fails to make an impact in comedy or drama. Not that he is helped by the occasional fourth-wall scenes 'Deadpool ft.' interrupting the flow. 

Kay Kay Menon, apart from Manjari Fadnis, seems to be the only actor who finds the balance between cringe and desperately funny. The actor plods through the screen with a confused look that seems apt for his character. There are scenes where Menon does manage to bring his natural flair for realism into the film, particularly when he utters the line 'Yeda samjha hai kya mereko idhar leke aaya' to Paul's character. One could not have said it better oneself. 

As for the film, it would suffice to say that your reviewer regrets that he will no longer remember the innocence that the words 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' brought to his mind.