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If you watch a lot of films, you develop an instinct for what is happening behind the camera. Some films -- heck, most films -- are all about the money, the box office, the payoff.

Not so with auteur Rick Famuyiwa's DOPE. Running at an overlong 1:45, you sense that money might have been the last thing on this writer/director's mind when he crafted the script; created some of the most endearing characters in modern film; carefully snuck into the dialog his puns, life lessons and bon mots; extracted top performances from his team; and ultimately created an experience that more "overwhelms" the viewer with images and ideas than "overpowers."

I liked it. I really liked it. But I go out of my way to catch films that most mainstream viewers don't, because film as a medium fascinates me.

The other IMDb members have done some great reviews and I don't want to repeat what has been said.

I do want to add this: technically the film is almost perfect. There is nothing obviously wrong with any scene, trope, performance ... it all works. And passion? There is tons of passion, nicely hidden in the script, obvious only in the way the film alternates back and forth between fast noisy action, and contemplative self-absorbed scenes of the type you would be more likely to find in a Woody Allen picture. Even with voice-over.

It has everything but pacing -- and that is the critical flaw. Famuyiwa tried so hard to cram so much into DOPE that the film lacks internal rhythm. By the very end, the viewer, while appreciative of the characters and the story, is pretty much lost.

One hopes that in his next project Famuyiwa will pay more attention to the viewers and less to his own "bucket list" of things he wants to cram into the story.

In that way, what starts as merely good ... could be great.

Rick Famuyiwa's "Dope" opens by providing its titular term with three distinct definitions - to paraphrase, the word can mean an illegal drug, a stupid person, or an affirmation of something's greatness. For the next one-hundred and ten minutes, the film works to illustrate all of those features in some way or another through a lens that's unique, refreshing, and respectful to its characters and their cultures.

Our main character is Malcolm (Shameik Moore), a black teenager carefully surviving in his crime/drug-ridden neighborhood of Inglewood, California, Despite being influenced by modern forces like the internet and Bitcoin, he loves nineties hip-hop and the culture of yesteryear, and so do his two closest friends, Jib ("The Grand Budapest Hotel"'s Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), who play in his punk band. Malcolm is going for what seems to be the impossible, which is applying for Harvard and forging a successful career path post-high school. However, in the mix of taking his SAT and writing his college entrance essay, Malcolm gets caught up in the underworld of illegal drugs and crime in the most unconventional way possible. After being invited to a party thrown by a drug dealer (rapper A$AP Rocky), Malcolm works to craft a name for himself by getting invested in the online drug-drealing world, using the help of a local hacker and Bitcoin to create a huge influx of revenue for him and his friends.

Famuyiwa attempts to do the same thing to African-Americans that John Hughes did with the middle class high school population in the 1980's, which is cut through the stereotypes, the incredulous romances, and what adults perceive teenagers to be like to really get to the heart of them as people. People with choices and decisions to make that are often times as big or as impacting as the ones adults make. The difference is, however, adults come equipped with life experiences where teenagers generally come equipped with their own instincts and peer pressure in their decision-making.

"Dope" shows the constant struggles of being a moral teenager engulfed in a society driven by illegal behavior and surrounded by peers who are nudging you onto a more dangerous pathway than on which you'd like to travel. The fact that it pays homage to the music and the urban movies of the 1990's is interesting because "Dope" doesn't focus on an anti-hero in a gritty neighborhood, much like the films of that era did. Instead, adhering to the principles of Hughes, it turns to the geek and, in turn, humanizes and paints him as a character trying to find himself in the mix of all this madness.

Famuyiwa and cinematographer Rachel Morrison crossbreed the early 1990's hip-hop culture with the contemporary technology of the mid-2010's, causing a culture shock of epic proportions in "Dope"'s aesthetic variety. "Dope" has the cinematic look of acid-washed jeans, the feel of a sun-soaked day at the beach, and the smells of everything from acne cream, sunscreen, and marijuana ostensibly infused into every scene. It's the kind of aesthetic that's so detail-centric it almost channels the likes of Wes Anderson, minus the meticulous symmetry in every scene.

Shameik Moore must be given considerable praise for his role here, which can only be described as a breakout performance. His human characteristics, carefully painted by Famuyiwa, his conflicted personalities, and his subtle arrogance, all traits that, in the end, make him very likable, echo the sentiments of Cuba Gooding, Jr. in "Boyz 'N The Hood," another conflicted soul caught in between being moral in a morally bankrupt area or taking the easy way out. Alongside Revolori and Clemons, two supporting roles that, again, go far and beyond the call of supporting roles, Moore is a talented who you find yourself being unable to take your eyes off of throughout the entire film.

Above all the aesthetic and character charm, "Dope" is a surprisingly optimistic film. It doesn't get bogged down by environmental cynicism, even when Malcolm has to turn into the kind of people he never wanted to associate himself with. Famuyiwa takes a brave step in the opposite direction of his peers, capturing acts like drug-dealing and backhanded deals in a light that accentuates joy and positivity, but it's all this that make "Dope" an even more fascinating character study, coming of age story, and a subversive tale about life in an urban area.

As I was driving to the movie theater to see "Dope" (R, 1:43), I was thinking about how that word is usually used as a slang term and in one of three main ways. Then, as the movie opened, those three definitions appeared on the screen. (Thank you, filmmakers, for making it so easy for me to decide how to open this review.) In short, dope can mean a stupid person, something really cool or refer to an illegal drug. All this begs the question, which of those definitions applies to this film? Short answer: all of them.

The movie centers on highly intelligent black high school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his two friends, multi-racial Jib (Tony Revolori) and lesbian Diggy (Kiersey Clemons). Now, I only use these labels because these characters use them for themselves. (They also refer to each other using the n-word, a situation which is used both for laughs and social commentary.) Here's another label the three use for themselves: geeks. Malcolm, Jib and Diggy geek out over 1990s-era rap and hip-hop. They see the 90s as a golden age for these kinds of music and they dress accordingly. In their spare time, however, we see them practicing in their punk rock band. Yup, the three main characters use lots of labels, but they defy them at the same time. For example, even though they see themselves as geeks, it doesn't mean that they're not cool or are incapable of getting along with non-geeks. In short, these labels describe the characters, but don't define them. And that distinction is really what this movie is about.

"Dope" takes place in one of the rougher neighborhoods in L.A., another circumstance that Malcolm seems intent on rising above. He is just hanging out with his friends and working at getting into Harvard when a chance meeting with a neighborhood drug dealer named Dom (A$AP Rocky) gets him invited to Dom's birthday party at a local club. The party… doesn't exactly go as planned. Malcolm ends up leaving with Nakia (Zoë Kravitz), a girl who Dom thinks belongs to him, but seems more attracted to Malcolm for being "different from the others" (and maybe because he can help her pass her GED). The next day, Malcolm discovers that he has also left the party with a significant amount of Ecstasy (aka Molly) and a gun that does belong to Dom. When a cell phone in the bag rings, the caller demands the drugs. Before Malcolm can hand off the contents of his backpack, the cell phone rings again. It's Dom, calling from jail and warning Malcolm not to turn over the drugs to the other caller. Malcolm is caught in the middle.

He receives instructions from Dom as to where to take the drugs, but he and his friends are still being pursued by that first caller (Amin Joseph). Malcom, Jib and Diggy take the drugs to a fancy house where Dom sends them and they meet their contact's young adult children (Keith Stanfield and Chanel Iman). Daddy's not home, so the five of them decide to hang out. Things don't go much better at the house than they did at the club the night before, so Malcolm and his friends are forced to improvise. They concoct a plan to get rid of the drugs with relatively little risk to themselves and the possibility of some significant rewards. They enlist the help of an old acquaintance from band camp (who also happens to be both a druggie and a hacker) by the name of Will Sherwood (Blake Anderson). Their audacious plan may solve all their problems, or it may land them in jail – or worse. No matter what happens, the three friends seem destined to shed at least some of their labels, and maybe gain some new ones.

"Dope" reminds me of the inner-city-set films of the 90s (the very period with which the three main characters are obsessed), but with less violence and more laughs. The movie uses humor to add entertainment value to the story, but also as a different way of approaching some very important issues, including ongoing problems in our inner cities and the use of labels in our society at large. The film's pedigree certainly contributed to its effectiveness. "Dope" is produced (and partially narrated by) Forest Whitaker, while Sean Combs and Pharrell Williams share executive producer credits. It also doesn't hurt that the movie is so well-written and well-directed by Rick Famuyiwa ("Brown Sugar", "The Wood") and has a strong, though little-known cast.

Malcolm and his friends are appealing and sympathetic characters, but make some morally questionable decisions. While the script makes light of their circumstances, it also slyly comments on them, but without suggesting definitive right and wrong answers. This is a coming-of-age movie that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. There are a few too many loose ends for my taste and I found much of the plot to be a little too morally ambiguous, but this is still one of the best urban dramas in the past 20 years. To sum up this review, let me suggest some slightly altered meanings for the film's title: Dope can refer to some of the movie's main characters, the curse of their neighborhoods or anyone who won't at least consider seeing the film because of labels they may have already assigned to it. "B+"

Dope is suave, fresh and actually Dope. It is an original, coming of age film featuring 3 high school students, who gets involved with a troublesome gang, & later circumstances forces them to mature from geeks to drug dealers in a snap. The "dopeness" of the film is largely due to its consistent charisma and energy, plus the sheer volume of assets to like. Despite its grassroots setting, there is no melodrama to be found here as the script focuses on being light, engaging & seriously funny. The soundtrack was an absolute nostalgic treat, headlining 90s hip hip like its nobody's business. The lead actors were very relatable as they perfectly nailed their roles from innocent, hormonal adolescents, to desperate for a way out teens. What takes the cake however, is the films main message that is again, original & unique but also powerful. The films shares with us that there is a way to get out of a bad social construct, to make something of yourself. How the film reaches this messaging however, is riddled with questionable plot turnouts and Hollywood sugarcoating. Besides this, seeing Dope was an enjoyable experience. It is well directed, acted and boasts a storyline rarely seen before. For that, the film deserves a 7/10.

"Dope" is not the movie that you probably expect when hearing the title. I want to stress that. The word itself has negative connotations (with most thinking immediately of drugs when they hear it), and though it certainly deals with things of that sort, it isn't really that simple. The few definitions of the word are addressed at the beginning of the film, most notably as a slang term referring to something that is "very good". This definition, my favorite of the few, seems to capture the movie in the best light.

Essentially, this is a coming-of-age picture. Our main character is Malcolm, a high-school senior who's obsessed with 90s hip-hop culture, and who constantly shows this affection by emulating the fashion and language of the time. He's a straight-A student with perfect SAT scores and seems to have everything under control - despite a few bullies - until he finds himself taking a chance invitation to a drug dealer's birthday party along with his two best friends. From there, he's taken on a crazy adventure littered with bad choice after bad choice, all the while juggling college applications and interviews that will surely determine his future.

Writer/Director Rick Famuyiwa strips the film of any tired clichés or stereotypes for African-American characters, and surprisingly manages to infuse details that question the issues of racism and class discrimination. But above all, he makes a really fun movie. The writing is sharp and humorous, with the acting from the main trio - Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, and Kiersey Clemons - complimenting it excellently. And though it's undoubtedly rough around the edges, its wit and ceaseless energy make it irresistible.

"A movie about nerds who love 90's hip-hop showing up a gangster? Yes, please!" was my initial reaction to this movie when I saw it on Netflix. So, last night, I stayed up and watched the movie. And...? Well, I think there's plenty of enjoyable things in this movie, but there's also just some dumb stuff that I can't get past that make this movie a little odd to me.

First of all, I really like Malcolm. He is an enjoyable lead, relate-able and is well developed, not to mention that the actor gives a solid performance. It's easy to care about this character.

I also really liked the set-up of the movie. It had an interesting idea and seemed to have a good way of carrying it out.

Thirdly, I also loved the comedy. There are some legitimately funny moments in this movie.

But...... Let's get into the bad.

This is a bland looking movie. The cinematography is pretty standard, the set design in lack luster, and, outside of Malcolm's clothing, nothing really draws your eye to the screen. Just blah.

The side characters. I have no connections to these side characters. Dicky I only remember because she was a lesbian. That's her only character trait. The other friend is also bland. He's so bland, I don't even remember his name. But the WORST was Malcolm's love interest. I don't remember her name, either. She just seems so self- centered, and all we know is that she dated this one guy and wants to go to Six Flags. Not enough to make me invested in her.

Lastly, the film doesn't know when to end. Seriously. It has, like, 4 different endings. I thought it was over when Malcolm revealed his plan to a man that screwed him over. The music swelled, and the line was given a lot of emphasis. But, NOPE! There's another ending where Malcolm gives a big speech, the music swells, and then there's a line with a lot of focus on it. Is it over? Nope! Chuck Testa! Then there's a boring third ending with the a fore mentioned love interest that we don't care about. There was a fourth ending, and that one is the best. It just ends with a sort of cliff hanger, and I appreciated that ending. The first ending and last ending are just fine. But, they just had too much to cram in and it became too crowded.

So, this film is pretty funny and mostly enjoyable, but I don't think I'm going to watch it again any time soon.

The trailer was a great visual feast but it doesn't show the scale of the movie and how excellent it is. 3 kids from Inglewood, CA, a town we're usually not asked to care about, have to wise up about drug dealing. I actively tried to find a bad performance, and I couldn't find a single one. Unlike many other "black" films, this one has comedic elements and tries to get you to laugh using memes and potty humor. Typically, this would carry a negative connotation, but in the case of this movie it is excellently executed and the pace is so quick that you don't even care how juvenile it is. I encourage everyone to watch this movie when it releases in June, specifically on the 19th. I'm sure it won't have the story it did at Sundance, however. Open Road may change a few elements of the story, which would be a shame. I'm giving this one a 9/10, just in case the movie isn't as good as it once was at Sundance, so bear that in mind.

DOPE review by Mike Smith

Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who's surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure.

This movie stuck with me for days. The story was rich, it kept me glued; it was exciting, crazy, funny, and all around a good watch. I connected with this film which is odd because I only share a small fraction of experience with this story. DOPE made me wanting more.

I really like that most of the cast is not well known; Shameik Moore is a great lead and his acting style reminds me of Don Cheadle. The fact that this was his first lead roll and he kept me glued to the screen makes me want to see what else he will do in his career. Tony Revolori is more of a comedic relief and Kiersey Clemons is more the voice of reason in the 3 person crew. DOPE has a big cast but everyone else is in and out really quickly. One person who made me laugh as soon as he hit the screen was Blake Anderson as the stoner hacker. There is so much to this movie that there could be another one made of just the co stars.

Sure this film is similar to others we have all seen in the past, the cuts and rewinds were well done and it felt different because it's been a while since I saw it in a film. I'm not a hip hop fan and not all of the music is hip hop and rap but I enjoyed it.

This film may not connect with you but I liked it. At times the film does drag a bit; most of the first act is forgettable and be prepared for more "N" words than Django unchained. Cheers and remember like won't suck as long as there is a good movie to watch.

7.5 out of 10

edited by Samantha Locke

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Grab a coming-of-age film with 3 innocent teens, slap an R (MA15+) rating on it and you get this very 'dope' film. Dope is easily one of the most interesting and by far unique films of the last few years. You go in expecting one thing, and come out of it getting something far from what you wanted. Usually that would be a bad thing, but this film was so intelligent and different that you can't help but leave with a smile on your face. I was expecting some sort of run of the mill coming-of-age comedy after seeing the trailer, but the film is much more complex than that, incorporating lots of themes and ideas that make you think while also keeping up the fun entertainment the whole way through. It was just a really refreshing thing to see in a world where most films today are just borrowing from other successful films. This movie has fantastic performances, an entertaining and fun plot that takes turns you never expect, and a great visual style that makes this stand out on its own in the Coming-Of-Age film genre.

Lets talk about these performances shall we, because these are three that will most likely get severely overlooked this year but i don't think it is the last we have heard of some of these actors. Your main guy Shameik Moore did an incredible job at playing Malcolm, this teenager who is trying to keep in line with school and college whilst all of these problems come his way that force him to be someone more than just the geek. He was great at conveying that this guy really wants to do good in the world but sometimes things happen that force you to act against your own instincts. He handled the serious intense scenes well, he delivered so great on the comedy and has definitely opened the door on his movie career. The other great performance was Tony Revolori who was so funny and witty and played his character well. I loved him in last years 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' so i had no doubt he would be great in this and he did not disappoint. His character could very easily been the dopey side character who is only around for comic relief but he proved to be an integral part of the film. But my favourite performance had to be by Kiersey Clemons who absolutely killed it in what is her breakout roll. She brought so much life and personality not only to her character but also to the film and made it infinitely more funny and entertaining. I can't wait to see her in more things because i loved her in this.

Lets talk about the plot, storytelling and structure of this film because it was mostly very very well made and told. I have to give a load of credit to the writers of this film because the plot for this film did not go in any direction i could've thought of in a million years. It was so engaging and there was a sense of urgency to the film, like, you always are wanting to know what will happen next and where the film is going to take you. Incredible writing that worked really really well. While i was watching the film i wasn't so thrilled with the first 15 minutes or so, i felt that it was taking too long to introduce these characters and showing things that didn't look like they were leading anywhere. But by the end of the film, everything about the beginning pays off, you get this very interesting before and after that incorporates some interesting themes about being yourself and thats where the film does great at incorporating some positive messages.

The film got a little patchy at times, where it was kind of dwelling on one thing when i wanted to move on to see what was going on with something else, but that was very quick and minor and didn't hurt it that much. In the end, this film was full of awesome, refreshing ideas that took the coming-of-age genre i love to new heights. Packed with comedy, some well used action, as well as incorporating crime and drama elements, this really was a complete package and is an indie film you should definitely check out and have a 'dope' ride. - 8.4

Coming out around the same time as Straight Outta Compton, which also deals with a group of friends in crime filled Cali that has a ton of music, Dope was a bit overshadowed in early August when it hit theaters. Make no mistake though, this is a really good film. It's highly entertaining, fast paced, and easily one of the most original screenplays of 2015 and perhaps of the past few years.

We follow a group of 'nerds' as they call themselves who are highly intelligent but also love 90's rap and jamming out themselves as their own band Awreeoh. It just so happens that they get caught up in a dangerously tricky situation involving some 'dope'. It's fair to say that most of what happens in the film is a bit too coincidental, it is. But what I loved most was this group of nerds and their reactions to each coinciding event. Shameik Moore plays the lead character, Malcom, and he does so wonderfully. If Moore plays his cards correctly, I think we will hear about this kid for years to come.

More importantly, you really buy into the groups dynamic. It never feels fake even when the situation surrounding them gets to be far- fetched. But I guess that also brings me to one of my negatives which is that after the first half or so it turns into Malcom's story. The first 45 minutes are great mainly because of the group's various endeavors. It's not a bad thing necessarily, it was just a tad less interesting. There's also a message behind the film that arises around the last 15 minutes or so and I can definitely see where it would be jarring to people. It doesn't take you out of the film per se but it is something you just have to accept.

So Dope's first half is up in there in my most entertaining 45 minutes of 2015. The last hour is fine but it definitely brings the film down a notch. If anything, Dope is worth watching if you're a fan of rap, a nerd, or you would like to see one of the best performances from someone who likely won't even be considered for an Oscar. Or maybe you just want to check in and see how you're favorite rappers Tyga and ASAP Rocky did on the big screen. Either way, check out Dope.

+Moore's breakthrough role

+Music

+Original idea turns out to be so fun

+Nerds seem like actual nerds

-Second half takes a big dip in quality

7.9/10

I loved this movie. They developed the setting very well and made the characters stand out from it. The idea of the "slippery slope" was something that I kept thinking about after watching it. That idea forms a plotline that builds tension and urgency while still being pretty funny, as is the movie in general. Also great performances from the main characters and ASAP Rocky. No huge problems with it besides that the second act drags a little bit, not every joke lands, and writing is sometimes a little bit forced.

Now this is what I call a very overrated movie. I was going to give it a five star rating but because I liked some of the music I will give it a six star rating. Dope is okay to watch once nut don't expect too much of it. The storyline is just weak, with a lot of nonsense, things that would absolutely not happen in real life. And by that I mean that three nerds from Inglewood would never get away with the deal they were implicated in. They would instead or end dead or in the slammer. I don't know where to categorize this movie. It's not a comedy nor a crime story. Maybe a drama, with some wannabe cool notes, I don't know. The only thing I liked about it was the music, the rest is below average.

Just watched this. I dont know, it was good, it was ok. It was like when your driving down the freeway trying to stay awake and you look over to see an albertsons plastic bag in the passenger seat. At that moment anything that really makes you care is literally forcing you to believe stuff.

As much as I enjoy Hollywood Blockbusters, it's always nice to get a nice independent film during the summer season to get away from all the superhero's and explosions that have become routine over the past few years. Dope is a film that fits the criteria.

The film tells the story of Malcom, a geek living in the ghettos of L.A. who's ultimate dream is to attend Harvard. While in the middle of working his way through the applications process in the SAT's, Malcom and his friends find themselves in an unlikely situation after they attend an underground party.

Dope features many things that make independent films so refreshing from big-budget Hollywood films. There's an energy and heart here that's absent in many feature films today. You can tell this was a project where those involved had a drive to bring their vision to the big screen. While the John Hughes-esque story of teens getting into trouble is familiar, the focus on a geeky African-American in an urban climate manages to make it feel somewhat fresh and relevant in today's social climate. It takes advantage of it's environment and does and excellent job of capturing urban L.A.

The other strong area of the film is it's performances. The three leads all are great and have fantastic chemistry with one another. The Shameik Moore is fantastic as Malcom carrying the film with his charisma and has a strong career ahead of him. The supporting cast is good as well, the highlight being Blake Anderson who I normally can't stand stealing every scene he's in. These characters are not only great because they are fun, but they also feel realistic and actually sympathetic. The writing is grounded and witty along with some good social commentary about identity. Oh, and the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a film this year.

As much as there is to like about Dope, it's not a great movie. The main problem with Dope is that the tonally it's very uneven. It's ambitiousness results in it feeling like 3 or 4 different movies put together. It's not so much that I had a problem with where the story was going, but rather that the transition is sloppy. The story is also rather predictable, especially in the 2nd half which isn't as strong as the 1st half. Towards the end, the social commentary which I actually didn't mind for the most part starts to get preachy and heavy handed which felt out of place as well.

Even though Dope doesn't quite live up to the Sundance praise it received, it's still a very good film and one of the most enjoyable I've seen this summer. It's great performances, energy, and fresh- take on the genre overcome it's predictable plot and unevenness. Overall, I'd say that Dope is in fact pretty dope.

To give you a little background on this film….. it was written and directed by a virtual unknown, Rick Famuyiwa, who apparently is a close acquaintance of the producer, Forest Whitaker. I'm not really sure how Pharrell Williams got involved as executive producer, but that's neither here nor there. I am just glad that more minorities are giving new and upcoming filmmakers a chance to show their craft. This film was nominated at the Cannes and Seattle film festival and actually won the award for editing at the Sundance film festival. I have to agree that the editing on this film was brilliantly done. When this film first started I was a little confused as to what decade I was in. There sat Malcolm (Shameik Moore) with a high-top fade sitting at the kitchen table. Then I spotted the cell phone (which is what confused me). The time period is cleared up rather quickly, so I was relieved by that. This story really is about a nerdy kid, Malcolm and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) who find themselves in unfamiliar territory and have to adjust their way of thinking in order deal with the situations that arises. There are many issue that are addressed in this film and there was even one scene that kind of paid homage to The Breakfast Club (which they actually mentioned in the film). There was also a little flavor of Boyz in the Hood and Cooley High (I know I'm dating myself, but oh well). Along the way, Malcolm finds himself head over heels for Nakia (Zoe Kravitz) who is affiliated with a somewhat shady guy (okay, really shady guy) named Dom (Rakim Mayers). This is where the whole mess gets started. One of the main points of the film (there were many) is the kind of expectations that people have of individuals that come out of the hood. As someone who grew up in the hood and "across the tracks" I can attest to that. It was fortunate that I grew up in a military family and was not afraid to leave. Most of the folks I grew up with are either dead, in jail or still live there. I did not think that I would like this film as much as I did. I think that they wrapped it up nicely and with a bit of a twist. I highly recommend this film.

Dope

In the 1990s, all you had to do to get the latest fashion trends was shoot the person wearing the clothes you wanted.

Unfortunately, as this dramedy confirms, nowadays you have to actually purchase your Air Jordans.

When a local pusher (A$AP Rocky) asks him for a favor, '90s rap aficionado Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends (Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons) find themselves sitting on a backpack of MDMA belonging to a Harvard alumnus (Roger Guenveur Smith).

Although Malcolm agrees to sell the powdered Molly for the cultured kingpin, in exchange, he wants to be accepted into the Ivy League university.

A satirical commentary on the limited career choices for African American males, Dope is a smart and stylish coming-of-age anecdote with notable cameos, an imposing soundtrack, and a charismatic young lead, that never feels preachy or accusatory.

Incidentally, you only have to sell inhalants to get accepted into Yale.

Green Light

vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

"Dope" is alright but it could have been better. Because I grew up in a time when Hip Hop was really Hip Hop I was very interested in seeing what this film had to offer since it is a film about an inner city youth who emulates the styles of 80's and 90's Hip Hop and who tries to survive the gangs and drugs of the hoods of Los Angeles. In fact after seeing the trailer I was kind of excited and itching to see this film but when I finally saw it my expectations fell a little short, not so short to where I didn't enjoy the film just short enough for me to knock one star off of its rating. The premise and the story-line are good but a bit simple but I do like the message the films gives about making the right choices in life. The performances in this film are OK they're not anything Oscar worthy. As for the comedic side of this film, there were some funny parts but there were a lot of parts that were meant to be funny but in my opinion they were not funny. I see this a lot in some "hood" comedies. Of course with the drama it was the usual geek likes girl, geek gets girl at the end kind of film. But I'm not complaining. If the writers of this film had tried a little harder I think this film would have been a little bit better, not saying that they did a bad job because they didn't. Like I said before, it's not as good as I thought it would be but it's not bad at all.

Rick Famuyiwa's "Dope" begins with an oncreen definition, more or less attempting to explain the definition of the title. Within seconds of the opening scene, viewers discover there is more to dope than its drug connotation. Similar to the title's definition, this movie surprises viewers with a deep underlying theme, and unique qualities many would not guess this movie could provide. Overall, "Dope" is one of a kind, where quick judgements cannot be made. This creative film provides viewers with unique characters, an entertaining soundtrack and plot, and influential theme that has not been replicated.

The unique aspects of this movie begin with Malcolm, a straight A high school student who lives in the slums of Los Angeles. Malcolm is a character rarely replicated in movies, considering his African American descent and geeky personality. In this way, Famuyiwa goes against social stereotypes, by creating a main character unlike many others. As the movie continues, Malcolm and his two close friends, introduce viewers to their daily struggles of navigating inner-Los Angeles neighborhoods and their accompanied lifestyle. Eventually, the characters mistakenly find themselves in the midst of a large drug deal, only further complicating their lives. The struggles Malcolm endures, coupled with his creative and intelligent solutions, develop a plot like no other. The soundtrack further amplified the unique aspects of this film. The teens have a punk band where their songs are continuously played within the movie. Produced by Pharrell Williams, the soundtrack provides catchy songs that blend the characters personalities to the plot line of the movie. The unique '90s rap collection helps describe Malcolm's personality and his overall love for 90's style, hits and fashion. Although created in 2015, the musical references to the 90's provided a refreshing aspect to this film compared to others.

Similar to the songs and characters of this movie, the theme was extremely unique compared to other films of this day and age. Famuyiwa created a theme very relevant to social problems today by addressing racial stereotypes and the negative consequences associated with them. Malcolm, a character who deeply cares about his academic performance and future, finds it hard to connect with others within his inner city community. Overall, Malcolm's surrounding environment and social status only hurt his chances of success and opportunity. This theme was addressed several times throughout the movie, creating a deeper relationship between viewers and Malcolm. Normally, films do not address these common social problems, however this movie not only focused on Malcolm's struggles, but also displayed his creative and intelligent solutions to his problems. Overall, the theme was extremely influential and unique compared to modern day films. Ultimately, Malcolm concludes the movie by stating "I don't fit in. I used to think that that was a curse, but now I'm slowly starting to see maybe it's a blessing." This statement not only summarizes Malcolm's ability to overcome his situation and struggles, but also describes the movie in and of itself. "Dope" is not an average film with a plot and theme that has been replicated many times before. It is unique, and that makes all the difference.