Jack Movie Review: Sidhu’s Spy Thriller Falls Flat Despite High Expectations
Sarkar Rating: 2/5 Release Date : April 10, 2025
Cast
Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Prakash Raj, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Naresh, Brahmaji, Rahul Dev, Ravi Prakash, Subbaraju, Sanjay Swaroop and others
Crew
Director: Bommarillu Bhaskar
Producer: B. V. S. N. Prasad
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
Music: Achu Rajamani, Sam C.S and Suresh Bobbil
After delivering consecutive blockbusters with DJ Tillu and Tillu Square, Telugu actor Siddhu Jonnalagadda returns to the big screen with his latest film, Jack. Directed by Bhaskar, this action-comedy thriller generated buzz at its announcement, especially with the fresh pairing of Siddhu and Baby fame Vaishnavi Chaitanya. However, despite a promising lineup, the movie hit theatres today with minimal hype.
So, does Jack mark a hat-trick of hits for Siddhu? Or is it another misfire in Tollywood’s recent attempt at spy thrillers? Here’s our detailed review.
Storyline: A Spy Thriller Without the Thrill
The plot revolves around Pablo Neruda aka Jack (Siddhu Jonnalagadda), a bright student with dreams of joining RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) to serve his country. Even before receiving official confirmation, Jack teams up with another aspirant to track down a dangerous terrorist. However, his rogue mission ends up interfering with official RAW operations. The rest of the story unravels the chaos Jack creates in his pursuit of justice.
Performance: Siddhu Tries, But the Script Lets Him Down
Siddhu Jonnalagadda, known for his effortless humor and quirky dialogue delivery, brings shades of his Tillu character to Jack. While he manages to deliver a few laughs, his performance feels disconnected from the core narrative.
The decision to cast Vaishnavi Chaitanya as the female lead, unfortunately, doesn’t pay off. The lack of chemistry between the lead pair, coupled with a dull romantic subplot, drags the film down further.
Veteran actors like Prakash Raj, Naresh, Brahmaji, Subbaraju, and Rahul Dev are criminally underutilized, with poorly written characters and almost no impactful screen presence.
Technical Aspects: Weak Execution and Dull Music
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Music by Achu Rajamani, Sam C.S., and Suresh Bobbili is underwhelming. Neither the songs nor the background score make an impression.
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Cinematography by Vijay C Chakravarthy is basic, lacking the polish expected in a spy thriller.
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The film feels longer than its 2-hour-15-minute runtime due to weak pacing and poor editing by Naveen Nooli.
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Production quality is another letdown. The second half appears rushed and shot on a limited budget.
Analysis:
Post-pandemic, audiences are spoilt for choice with high-quality spy thrillers available on OTT platforms. Whether it’s intense espionage dramas or witty action-comedies, viewers expect tight scripts and engaging narratives.
Unfortunately, Jack joins the list of recent Telugu spy films—like Agent and Spy—that fail due to weak writing and poor execution. Director Bhaskar attempts to blend multiple genres—action, comedy, romance, patriotism—but ends up diluting all of them.
The portrayal of RAW agents is unintentionally comical, and Jack’s amateur sleuthing overshadows the actual intelligence officers. The film lacks innovation, and the screenplay is riddled with clichés.
Adding to the disappointment is a cringe-worthy romantic track between Siddhu and Vaishnavi. The dialogues feel like recycled lines from DJ Tillu, lacking originality and context.
Final Verdict:
Jack is a missed opportunity for both Siddhu Jonnalagadda and director Bhaskar. Despite the presence of a talented cast, the lack of vision, poor writing, weak direction, and subpar production values result in a forgettable film.
Positives:
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Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s comic timing
Negatives:
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Weak direction by Bhaskar
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Confused and silly screenplay
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Poor production quality
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Forgettable songs and loud BGM
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Zero chemistry between lead actors
Read Also: ‘Court’ Movie Review