Anuvahood

I really didn't know what to expect with this film, except that I thought the trailer was quite funny. What I got was something trying very hard but never quite being all that it could be.

The character of K is initially quite endearing, and has some funny moments throughout, but overall he is a rather thin caricature that you would cross the street to avoid, much like every other character aside from a foreign kid who is brought in, it seems, for absolutely no reason whatsoever and wasted as a result.

The plot is very poor and doesn't go anywhere with any attempt at realism or satire. Much of the script is poor, although when it shines it shines brightly.

Anuvahood is a film that badly needed a co writer and a decent script editor, and smacks of being a vanity project with not enough sets of hands on the wheel. It's not awful, but still leaves the viewer disappointed with it's many shortcomings.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Kenneth (Adam Deacon) likes to try and play the big man, but his front usually gets dashed pretty quickly. Unable even to hold down a simple job at a super-market (Laimsbury's!), he takes abuse from his mouthy mum who's fallen behind with payments and having trouble from the bailiffs, and has to duck and cover from the hyper hard man on the estate who's out to put him down. Until a chance encounter dealing some stolen weed brightens his prospects a bit, as well as making a new friend in a Spanish relation of his uncle's. But it's all building up to go wrong, leading Ken to a final showdown that will test his will as a man.

Kidulthood and Adulthood have become cult films of their time, high-lighting the modern 'urban street culture' a lot of the modern youth follow, in particular the fashion sense and slang. So Adam Deacon, star of both films, is in a good position to make a film sending them up. Which is why it's so surprising the result is such an amateurish effort, that fails where something like Ali G Indahouse worked. Both of Noel Clarke's sink estate dramas aimed to pull no punches and dive into the unflinching underclass of 21st century Britain. This meant that, while good films in themselves, they were mostly quite downbeat, grim viewing. So it was welcome that the next 'hood' effort would be a more light hearted affair. Sadly, you can see most of the jokes coming a mile off, and too much of it feels forced and over the top, with inconsistent characters, including a villain like Wesley Snipes from Demolition Man on steroids, and some random, pointless characters being introduced and then never heard from again. That's not to mention most of the dialogue being spat out so ridiculously loud and fast you'd do well to pack some Alka Seltzer on your trip to see it. A disappointing mess. **

Again thoroughly enjoyed another Adam Deacon movie this guy along with Ben Drew are the two most important actors/directors this generation has right now at the moment in my opinion. This movie does exactly what it is supposed to which is to make us laugh our arse off! Anyone who doesn;t find Tyrone hilarious needs a sense of humour transplant immediately? Is this movies a masterpiece? lol of course not its not supposed to be, Has Adam Deacon spent 4 years polishing every single scene just like a Kubrick or Kurosawa movie? Of course bloody not lol. This is a quickly and very cheaply British movie made with realistic dialogue, scenery, costume, music, script, of course it is realistic if it isn;t then how else do the young underclass of Britain dress and talk etc? Its spot on in fact. Now this movie isn't perfect in some places, Fair enough, But this movie is entertaining and makes me want too watch many more Deacon efforts and feel proud that all these talented British actors are giving it a go instead of actually dealing drugs or standing in a job centre. My advice is lighten the hell up when watching these movies ffs. To anyone else who found this movie hilarious good on ya'h. Big well done to Deacon and rest of crew an excellent effort. By the way one last thing this was twice as funny as the original Friday movies just not as polished.

I'm a hard one to make laugh. The Hangover...meh. Shaun of the Dead...OK. Admittedly there are better crafted films, cleverer, snappier, whatever. I don't really like comedy that tries to be too intelligent. What I love is silly, leave your brain at the door, and just make me forget all my workday stress. I like to LMAO. And this doesn't disappoint, AT ALL.

I had read reviews...all of them suggested I shouldn't bother watching this. But being the perverse creature I am, and almost in a way WANTING to put it down (I'm a huge fan of the Noel Clarke hoods)I announced last night (to groans) that this was the evening's viewing. I'm so glad I did.

Being a 40-something (yeah, that'll surprise your "not for the over-30s" crew) middle class parent of teenagers, I'm already well used to the street slang, and in this film, every single tiny nuance of the culture and language is used to send itself up - brilliantly. Not much of a story, not much of a plot - it doesn't matter. Listen to your own kids speaking to their friends; look at their text talk. It's all here and ridiculed...but in a loving way.

Well done Adam Deacon; this was a great debut. It ranks up there with 4 Lions for me. And the next time I have an absolute b****** of a day at work, I might just watch it again ;)

The African Traffic Warden is one of the funniest things I have seen in forever. Kudos.

I watched Anuvahood this evening and was actually quite impressed. OK, it's not going to win any Oscars, it's not the best plot in the world but I think it was a good effort by all. That said, I do think there is an important message in there somewhere, maybe not if you're a 31 year old 'been there, done that' adult but teenage city kids could learn a lesson or two from it.

Adam Deacon is proving himself a good little actor but I would love to see him in a different type of role before he becomes a one-trick pony and let's not forget it's his directing début, the quality of the direction of Anuvahood I think shows his potential for future projects.

Tyrone (Richie Campbell) was brilliant and provided most of the LOL moments. I was truly laughing hard at a moment involving ketchup. I thought Linda Robson was a perfect choice for K's mum. The cameo choices were genius, most notably Eddie Kadi as the traffic warden.

Good film, not brilliant but I don't think it's intending to be. I'm not sure if people will 'get' it unless they are familiar with this type of culture, I'm a Londoner so used to it but others may struggle to understand the slang and the humour. I hope that's not the case and people will give Anuvahood a go. It's nice to have a film about the gritty realism of London that's not all doom and gloom like the usual offerings.