Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

Adulthood (2008)

Director: Noel Clarke

Time Out rating

Average user rating

136 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

When ‘Kidulthood’ came out in 2006, I was put off by the over-ambition of Noel Clarke’s screenplay, which tried to cram every hot-button teen issue into a melodramatic 90 minutes of violence, sex and drugs on London’s streets. It had an impressive energy and a little insight but the acting was ropey and the directing superficial. Its follow-up, ‘Adulthood’, is again written by Clarke, who had an ensemble part in ‘Kidulthood’, but now he directs and reassumes the role of Sam Peel, a lad fresh out of jail after serving six years for the manslaughter that brought the first film to a close. There’s barely a scene without Clarke skulking about the streets of Ladbroke Grove and he has several brooding close-ups that make you wonder if he has ever heard of humility.

The story has a tighter focus than its predecessor: Sam spends a busy day trying to avoid being dragged back into a cycle of revenge and violence. He fails – and much chasing and cursing follow. There’s a thoughtful side to this maturer sequel as Clarke ponders the struggle of growing up: a plot involving a lonely young woman (Scarlett Alice Johnson) scarred by her past offers a welcome, maudlin aside from the gun and knife play. But there are bum notes that will have people chewing the arm rest: a posh guy buying drugs is the worst sort of cartoon, and the location of a late showdown – Compromise Avenue, W11 – is a distraction. It’s a film with its target audience – teenage boys and the youngest of men – firmly in mind and we’re never far from a rapid edit, a loud tune or a fight.

Author: Dave Calhoun 2008-06-17 11:44:06

Time Out London Issue 1974, June 18-25, 2008

Bookmark

User reviews of this film

Jack said...

Posted on Jul 04 2008 19:56 WELL ALL ICAN SAY IS NUTS! JY HAS TURNED INTO SUCH A DIKHEAD. I CAN UNDERSTAND FROM SAMS POINT OF VIEW AND I FEEL SORRY FOR HIM, HIS DONE HIS TYM! MOONIES MOVED ORN (DONE THE RYT FING) BUHT JAY IN HIS JWKS WAYS WNT FORGIVE IT, ALL HIS EVER WANTED TO BE IS A BADMAN AND IT KUMS DWN TO IT AN D THE GUN AINT GT NO BULLETS IN! JAYS TURNED INTO A NOB, SAM TURNED INTO A NEW GUY, MOONIES JUS A NORMAL TEENAGER HU WANT THE CASH AND THE MONEY! SAFEEEEEEEEEE X

Report as inappropriate
A$h said...

Posted on Jul 04 2008 17:50 SOME PEEPS ARE STUPID THIS FILM IS SIKK AND THE MAN CALLED JOHN WE SAY BLUD AND U SAY MATE NOT RETARDED U JANKA HOW WE CHAT. THE FILM WAS AMAZING LIKE KIDULTHOOD ITS NOT GLORIFYING BLACK GANG CULTURE U NOT SEE WHITE MAN IN THE FILM THIS IS HOW WE LIV SIMPLE AND MAYBE THE BIG MEN WELL DO SUMMAT BOUT GUN AND KNIVES IF NOT WE STILL GONNA CARRY HOW IT IS U DONT HAVE ONE AND U DEAD PPLE WHO ARE FROM ENDZ LIKE THIS WILL LOVE DIS FILM (NOEL CLARKE BIG BIG BIGUP FAM PLAYED SAM BIG IN BOTH BLESS) SIKKK

Report as inappropriate
Jack said...

Posted on Jul 03 2008 04:22 I can understand why all these dodgy ' critics ' are trying to slag the film off ... BUT FUCK THEM =] weeeeeeeeest every day ALIE!?

Report as inappropriate
BryanDunlop:D said...

Posted on Jul 02 2008 01:03 AMAZING im sixteen and it had everything in it just Wow lol amazing

Report as inappropriate
Jade said...

Posted on Jul 02 2008 00:47 What's sad is that we are all opiniated people who have the time to write a review or many reviews on this film but do nothing to help the situation. Moaning about the violent young youths of today doesn't change a god damn thing.
On another note, well done Noel Clarke. It's a shame not everyone can congratulate the success of a black male.

Report as inappropriate
phillips said...

Posted on Jul 02 2008 00:24 I thought it was a mature sequel, I hate critics having an extreme case of tunnel vision, you cannot review every film as if it was made for YOU.
7/10.

Report as inappropriate
muscle750 said...

Posted on Jul 01 2008 23:07 Me buz up on de sarf london estate now full of yardies shooting each other......................Me now living in the country and lovin it. Still go back to me old haunts Wife hates it. Some right bad man round there, the film is very true to life and is one of the best as its predessor was

Report as inappropriate
jade said...

Posted on Jul 01 2008 17:57 i thought the film was really good

Report as inappropriate
godly said...

Posted on Jul 01 2008 09:11 I was disgusted with this film. All it does is glorify black gang culture and the problem with it in this country. Anyone who has been mugged or attempted to mug them will no it is one of the scariest things that can happen but still people were laughing in the audience. There is a very big problem with black gang culture witch needs to be sorted and I do not think glorifying it will help.

Report as inappropriate
april said...

Posted on Jun 30 2008 00:47 I thought this film was excellent starring written by and directed by noel clark. It was much better than I had expected. Much better than other uk teen films like bullet boy and life and lyrics. Well directed and well edited no unescesary secnes or moments of bordom (although sex scenes could have been cut out). This film delivers what many Hollywood big budget films fail to deliver. This film does not however give a good depiction of English youth, however other Hollywood films give do not depict young people (especially balcks) in a good light. Really enjoyed the film and would recommend it for anyone over 16.
Absolutly loved it.
p.s sorry about the spellingand grammar mistakes.

Report as inappropriate
adulthood101 said...

Posted on Jun 29 2008 22:03 badman film, had evrythin a good film needs action drama an comedy, lol when jay was listenin 2 moonys girl an he went ill spark your girl man lol. ' dont try an be a badman blud, be like moony an go uni' so sumthin wiv ur life'.
bless

Report as inappropriate
sexy said...

Posted on Jun 29 2008 19:32 standard

Report as inappropriate
billy said...

Posted on Jun 29 2008 15:18 i thought dis film was......
have not seen it....
but cant wait
ppls r gay
peazza yooh too!
narnia woz ta best
peazza yhoo babe!

Report as inappropriate
Lil S.x. said...

Posted on Jun 28 2008 15:31 Loool... Why Iz Everyone Ona Big Hype...
Fuck Sake Peoples.. Iz Onii A Movie... Chill Out N Jam.
Good Film Though...
=) x Peace N Lurvvvvvvv x (=

Report as inappropriate
MC ROZZA said...

Posted on Jun 27 2008 17:07 OH BLUD, NO MESSIN BUT U IZ CHATTIN AIII! ADULTHOOD IZ FUKIN SICK MAN. SICKEST FILM EVA. PROPA REALY LYK.
BIG SHOUT OUT 2 MY MANDEM.
BRAAAP.
PEACE OUT.

Report as inappropriate