As a long term Gary Kemp fan I was at first looking forward to this and then as I read more about it starting to dread watching it. The reviews had me believe that this was gross-out comedy at it's worst. Don't believe it. It's actually okay. The cast is mostly black and mostly unknowns. Gary Kemp and Alan Davies are probably the only two "household names" in the piece although there are short appearances from a few character actors well known on British TV. The plot centres around a group of hapless youths who in an attempt to make a quick buck try to kidnap a rich authoress prize pooch, but end up stealing Kemp's (a local drugs lord) instead. The caper that follows involves them with Davies trying to "sting" Kemp's character, Jesus.
The cast are all good and strangely likeable although I think they missed an opportunity here. The movie as I said casts young, black unknowns which is a step forward, but it turns into only a step sideways as they turn into small time crooks etc. It might have been more interesting to have them "normal", but then that would not have made much of a movie I suppose. Kemp and Davies do provide the star quality and although this might not be on a par with Kemp's best movies, it's certainly more watchable than I thought it was going to. And Derek is just a great name for a dog!
LJ
