Film Review: Adulthood

Adulthood

What’s it about?
Following on from the highly successful Kidulthood is the eagerly anticipated sequel. After serving six years for murder Sam (Noel Clarke) is released back into the community where friends and relatives of his victim, Trife, are still simmering from his thuggery.

Whilst life may have stood still for Sam, with the continuing themes of bullying, and violence following him into prison (we find out how by way of well edited flashbacks), those he left behind have been inextricably affected by his murderous act. Jay (Adam Deacon) has transformed into and angry drug dealer, Moony (Femi Oyeniran) is focussed on finishing his law degreee, Alisa is a single mum bringing up her daughter with the help of her mother and Sam’s ex, Claire (Madalaine Failrley), has found a new man (Danny Dyer) and is determined to move on.

From the outset Sam is focussed on ending the circle of violence that he started but his redemption is made all that more difficult with a shady mentor Big Man (Wil Johnson), lurking in the background, a price on his head and a new breed of bad boys who are determined to pursue him to settle the score.

Is it any good?
Featuring a great soundtrack, and a good use of splitscreen, it’s phenomenal and manages to blow it’s predecessor out of the water. This is no mean feat, but with Clarke in the Directors chair, on scripting duties and in the starring role, greatness is almost certainly guaranteed. Clarke manages to multitask with perfection. For a directorial debut he has put together a perfectly cast, immaculately edited and impeccably paced film. Adulthood benefits from a tight script which features both witty and realistic dialogue. In addition Clarke’s skills on screen are understated, generously allowing his co-stars to develop their characters.

You’ll remember this bit?
This is very much a performance based film featuring many of the young actors from the first movie who have all, notably Deacon, raised the levels of their onscreen skill.

The mugging scene in which Deacon deals out a stern rebuke to a client who is reluctant to pay for his dope is pure class. This warms you up for a later scene which is an interesting variation on the classic mexican stand off…baseball bat vs automatic handgun.

Plan B, as Dabs, shines as the perpetually out of control thug who also shows a keen sense of comic timing. Dyer whilst providing a brief performance adds value here dominating his scenes with an intensity that many will liken to that of Ray Winstone. Adulthood is a timely film given the cycle of violence that many in the UK, either voluntarily or involuntarily, now find themselves a part of. With its message of hope, redemption and an end to violence this is definitely the most important film of this year.

E.T.A: 20 June