Noel Clarkes hood trilogy reaches its conclusion in Brotherhood, the final story of Sam Peels redemption. The basic premise of the story is that Sam still finds himself defined by the final event in the first film of the trilogy, Kidulthood, where he murdered a boy. Where Adulthood presented him as an outcast trying to reintegrate and survive, Brotherhood shows a more mature Sam who has moved on from his old life. His family and those he has affected have also managed to move on. Unfortunately the uncle of Sams victim, Trife, is a gangster who has vowed vengeance on Sam and he drags Sam back into his old world.
There are always a lot of expectations with Brotherhood, it must follow the traditions of the past two films, following inner city kids and their lives. Unfortunately I felt this ultimately handicaps a film which had a worthwhile story to tell.
In Kidulthood, the film and the setting is so beloved because it really does capture the life of an inner city kid. If like me you grew up in this culture, we all knew or were kids like Trife, Moody or Jay and it was great to see our story being told. The problem for the sequels is that those three were very much the heart and soul of the film. Sam was a menacing character, but a very 1 dimensional one. A bully who plays his part in the tragedy of there being no happy endings in this world. Adulthood does a lot to flesh Sams character out but ultimately I felt the story died with Trife. You can tell Clarke lived through the lives of Sam, Trife, Moody and Jay, but not so much the gangster world he delves into in these sequels. So when the story starts to get involved in that world, it feels forced.
The problem for Clarke and his character Sam, is that his character has no place in the world of the inner city kid anymore, Hes older more mature. The film tells you as much. There are some interesting stories in this film. #spoilers# Sam has reconciled with his mum and brother and has also made up with Alyssa the mother of Trifes child. Sam has made a family for himself and taken a baby from his previous relationship. He struggles to hold down a job because of problems with integrating into society. Sams character has lived his life all macho and bravado which is at odds with his life now. There is a rich story about the rehabilitation of a regretful man trying to make his way in life while being hounded by a psychopath. A man who's one big mistake in life continues to define and pull him back, no matter how much he improves.
However this is kept bubbling under the surface and the story with Uncle Curtis takes centre stage. Curtis is another 1 dimensional character, a one note violent gangster, who really needs to be a background threat who destablises Sams life rather then a centerpiece. Instead the story involves Curtis and some new gangsters, who happen to have some inner city kids tagging along with them. I understand that a lot of this is to satisfy the trilogy's fanbase. For all the critique on inner city life and the tragedy of it all, the trilogy also made itself famous through scenes portraying the gangster lifestyle, the macho bravado, sex and violence almost glorifying it. To leave this out would be in many ways betraying its audience.
Its just something which ultimately handicaps the film. Gangsters like Daley and Hugs only seem to complicate the plot, leading to Clarke having to write in other random characters in order to help Sam out of an otherwise inescapable peril. The plot becomes muddled and the gangsters for all their reputation are easily vanquished by Sam and his randomers. The randomers, the gangsters, the women and the kids are all expendable and needless additions to the film.
Brotherhood does deliver some nice moments. Fans of the previous films do get plenty of nods. The comedy in Sam being out of touch with today's kids is touched upon here and there. Ultimately though Clarke and the hood trilogy finishes on a flat note. By refusing to grow up it ultimately fails to reach its potential.
There are always a lot of expectations with Brotherhood, it must follow the traditions of the past two films, following inner city kids and their lives. Unfortunately I felt this ultimately handicaps a film which had a worthwhile story to tell.
In Kidulthood, the film and the setting is so beloved because it really does capture the life of an inner city kid. If like me you grew up in this culture, we all knew or were kids like Trife, Moody or Jay and it was great to see our story being told. The problem for the sequels is that those three were very much the heart and soul of the film. Sam was a menacing character, but a very 1 dimensional one. A bully who plays his part in the tragedy of there being no happy endings in this world. Adulthood does a lot to flesh Sams character out but ultimately I felt the story died with Trife. You can tell Clarke lived through the lives of Sam, Trife, Moody and Jay, but not so much the gangster world he delves into in these sequels. So when the story starts to get involved in that world, it feels forced.
The problem for Clarke and his character Sam, is that his character has no place in the world of the inner city kid anymore, Hes older more mature. The film tells you as much. There are some interesting stories in this film. #spoilers# Sam has reconciled with his mum and brother and has also made up with Alyssa the mother of Trifes child. Sam has made a family for himself and taken a baby from his previous relationship. He struggles to hold down a job because of problems with integrating into society. Sams character has lived his life all macho and bravado which is at odds with his life now. There is a rich story about the rehabilitation of a regretful man trying to make his way in life while being hounded by a psychopath. A man who's one big mistake in life continues to define and pull him back, no matter how much he improves.
However this is kept bubbling under the surface and the story with Uncle Curtis takes centre stage. Curtis is another 1 dimensional character, a one note violent gangster, who really needs to be a background threat who destablises Sams life rather then a centerpiece. Instead the story involves Curtis and some new gangsters, who happen to have some inner city kids tagging along with them. I understand that a lot of this is to satisfy the trilogy's fanbase. For all the critique on inner city life and the tragedy of it all, the trilogy also made itself famous through scenes portraying the gangster lifestyle, the macho bravado, sex and violence almost glorifying it. To leave this out would be in many ways betraying its audience.
Its just something which ultimately handicaps the film. Gangsters like Daley and Hugs only seem to complicate the plot, leading to Clarke having to write in other random characters in order to help Sam out of an otherwise inescapable peril. The plot becomes muddled and the gangsters for all their reputation are easily vanquished by Sam and his randomers. The randomers, the gangsters, the women and the kids are all expendable and needless additions to the film.
Brotherhood does deliver some nice moments. Fans of the previous films do get plenty of nods. The comedy in Sam being out of touch with today's kids is touched upon here and there. Ultimately though Clarke and the hood trilogy finishes on a flat note. By refusing to grow up it ultimately fails to reach its potential.