New Film Review: Dope

DOPE
Directed by Rick Famuyiwa
Screenplay by Rick Famuyiwa
Starring Shameik Moore; Tony Revolori; Kiersey Clemons



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

The acting by the three leads is very very good. Moore as Malcom; Revolori as Jib; and Clemons as Diggy. I cant tell you how great the chemistry is between these three friends who stick together no matter what.
The film has the same feel as Super Bad, with a good amount of humor, and where close friends just stumble into trouble on a particular night. However, here the script is all over the place. At the end there is a question asked of us: you would not be surprised and question a white teenage male if he was applying to Harvard. Then why would you be surprised and question a black teenage male? That is a fair question. However, it does not connect with the film. I cannot give up too much of the plot but Malcom and his friends get into trouble, like big trouble. However they are able to use their smarts/brains and use that trouble to better themselves. Still it did not connect with the question.
The plot is all over the place, really funny moments; crazy coincidences; A love story...kinda.. that is thrown together at the end. The story needed editing and needed to be cleaned up a bit. I just feel that all three leads were so likable that they deserved a tighter script. I was hoping to see more of how hard it is for the "Nerd" growing up in a tough neighborhood to finds his way. And I wanted more about the relationship with his single mother, I mean they had the great Kimberly Elise play the mother and she is on the screen for 5 minutes. Really??
3 1/2 out of 5 for DOPE a well acted film. By the way I hate the title. Probably should have been called A Slippery Slope. If you get a chance to see it you will know why.....one bad decision by a teenager can start a slippery slope.


As always from the shadows thanks for your time.