Marching Powder

Marching Powder is a lot of fun as it nobly tries to be a romantic comedy with a darker edge due to its subject matter. There's no mistaking what you're going to get here and the opening sequence (both animated and live action) ensures you know exactly what the next 90 minutes are going to be like. It covers quite a bit within that shorter run time and always remains engaging even if it's undoubtedly frustrating to watch the cycle repeating itself so many times.

Danny Dyer's character doesn't make a strong case for any potential redemption or forgiveness so his natural charms are working overtime to keep him likeable which is the sole reason he remains a watchable presence. Every time he breaks the fourth wall it works and his self deprecating nature is also a big help. Stephanie Leonidas is the sole heart of the film as she gives Dyer too many second chances without being naive about the chances of success.

Nick Love's direction manages to maintain the playful nature throughout, starting strong with an animated fairytale opening and then finding various ways to include equally fantastical flourishes. It's a hard tone to balance, moving back and forth between brutal gang violence and more lighthearted relationship shenanigans but it does a pretty good job of handling the tonal shifts. Simon Stolland's cinematography definitely helps by employing chaotic camerawork for the fights.

Hats off to Danny Dyer for at least putting his heart and soul into this, but as a piece of cinema it's poor, stereotypical and derivative of just about every other film he has been in - and a few that he hasn't. "Jack" is having a bit of a mid-life crisis as he realises that he's nearer the end than the beginning and hasn't much to show for it. His wife "Dani" (Stephanie Leonidas) reckons he's a waste of space and his daily regimen of lager and sniff isn't likely to change that anytime soon. A bit of routine football hooliganism sees him in front of a magistrate who gives him six weeks to get himself sorted out, else he is going to prison. Can he wean himself off his old habits and try to be a better person/husband/dad? Maybe Nick Love thinks that a constant stream of expletives makes for a good watch, but this was just puerile. There's not an hint of subtlety, no depth to the characterisation and without a doubt, the best bits are in the trails. "Jack" is a thug with few likeable qualities, and the strength of the drama between him and his wife is thrown completely under the bus when an incident with their son (Arty Dyer) should have put an end to the whole thing, but somehow just gets forgotten as what passes for a plot marches on. The whole thing has a 1980s look to it - attitudinally and aesthetically, and the occasional witty asides to the camera soon wear thin as we are presented with a slew of folks you'd cross the road to avoid. There is some humour in the script, but nowhere near enough to sustain this for what seemed like a lot longer than 90 minutes. A definite victory for hype over substance, powdery or otherwise. Sorry.

Marching Powder starts off strong with a captivating animated opening that effectively sets up its backstory with vibrant visuals and a hint of humor, providing a foundation for the rest of the film.

However, the tone shifts abruptly with a rapid-cut, handheld fight scene that becomes uncomfortable to watch, especially on the big screen. The frantic pacing and shaky camera work is disorientating, pulling you out of the otherwise immersive experience.

Despite what the trailer might suggest, there's much more to this film than meets the eye, and a large part of its emotional depth comes from the character of Dani, the wife. Her story and emotional journey add a layer of nuance to the narrative, making the film more than just a spectacle. Her strength and resilience give the movie a heart that might otherwise be lost amidst the chaotic scenes.

In summary, Marching Powder is an unexpected gem with a unique opening, jarring but necessary fight sequences, and a powerful emotional core thanks to Dani's character. Don't let the trailer fool you-there's a compelling story here beneath the surface.

I'm probably the demographic that this film is aimed at, middle aged male who loves the match, dressing in good clobber and has enjoyed his fair share of lads nights out and away days.

But... Marching Powder is a deceiving film. The lad culture in the film feels very shoe horned in (because it's a Nick Love film it's got to have that I suppose) it didn't add anything ti the film itself other than to give them a reason to have the main character in court - which they could've done a thousand different ways. Not Dyer or Love's greatest, but maybe that was the point. The character was too old for all that bollocks. It's time to grow up.

I'm sort of glad that "Marching Powder" has been released just so I don't have to see the trailer anymore. For a British film, this has to be one of the more heavily advertised films I've ever seen - so much so that I almost didn't feel the need to actually see it, I'm so familiar with it's comedy beats.

Jack (Danny Dyer) has enjoyed a life of drugs, lager, porn and football violence for most of his life. Arrested following a fight in Grimsby, he avoids jail on the understanding that he'll start to turn his life around. Truth be told, Jack is starting to consider that perhaps he's getting too old for this life anyway. He's relationship with wife Dani (Stephanie Leonidas) is struggling due to emotional absence and his lack of libido. His father-in-law (Geoff Bell) hates him, and his son (Arty Dyer) is starting to show worrying signs of following in his father's footsteps. But will his friends, and his own anger issues, allow him to change?

The familiarity of the film perhaps extends beyond the oft repeated trailer. Both Dyer and Nick Love have been making films and TV in this South London; casuals; drugs and violence genre for years, with neither perhaps finding the respect they are due for continuing to work, if nothing else. "Marching Powder" is a little different because, despite how the adverts have mocked romantic comedies, that's what the film really is. It hinges not on whether he will avoid prison, but can he save his marriage. There are sub-plots though, some of which contain some genuinely disturbing moments that work alongside the comedy.

Dyer is quite good in this. Admittedly he's playing an aging out 'wide boy', whilst at the same time aging out of playing 'wide boys'. But it's a gutsy performance that exposes himself quite a bit.

Ultimately, like a lot of Love's films I've felt, it doesn't really add up to all that much. It hinges on a moment of violence that should, perhaps, be the final push that Jack needs but, ultimately, we do leave him pretty much as we found him. There are a few laughs along the way though.