When Johns (Dulquer Salmaan) and his cousin Korah (Jacob Gregory) arrive in Kerala from the US anticipating a great holiday, they are in for a rude shock, right from the word go.
The house that Johns’ father (Lalu Alex) has arranged for their sojourn is ‘disgusting,’ as described by Johns to his mother over the phone, and he further adds, ‘How can dad be so irresponsible?’
So the duo check into a posh hotel and start planning on a visit to Goa, only to be greeted with the second shock of the day. They are told by the local bank authorities that Johns’ credit card is no longer valid since his father had closed that particular account in the US.
Puzzled and angry, Johns’ calls up his father and asks, ‘What the f*** is this dad?’
His lingo is typical of today’s youngster, be it in India or elsewhere, laden with four-letter expletives and absolutely disrespectful of his parents.
This American-born Indian has been taking life easy basking under his father’s wealth without shouldering any responsibility. When he gets into trouble with in a pub there, his life is endangered. So his father, a reputed doctor, concerned for his safety, sends Johns to his hometown in Kerala. He also takes this opportunity to mend his son’s wayward ways.
Dulquer gets into the skin of Johns as the spoilt US lad who has scant regard for the value of money, and has even lent his voice for the song ‘Johnny Mone Johnny’, now a hit online. Gregory supports Dulquer’s antics as Korah. New comer Aparna Karthikeyan shows promise.
This is director Martin Prakkat’s second film after ‘Best Actor,’ a Mamootty starrer. Produced by Thameens, ‘American Born Confused Desi,’ has music scored by Gopi Sundar. Cinematography is by Jomon T.John.
Taking a cue from the new generation of Malayalam films, this puerile comedy relies on toilet humour for laughs. If that is not enough to irritate you, the accompanying music in almost every frame that increases in volume during a supposedly comic moment will get at you for sure.
Taking a dig at the television media’s fascination for breaking news, some satirical scenes remind you of Bollywood’s ‘Peepli Live.’ But then that had a stronger script, unlike ‘ABCD.’ A tad too long, ‘ABCD’ calls for better trimming. But if you are a Dulquer fan, this one is up your alley.
