One of two problems that British films have suffered from in the last couple of decades is that they look too much like made for TV films . It's an obvious fault but perhaps an understandable considering that a massive amount of totally British financed movies were produced by Channel 4 films and have a production team who started off in television . The second oft quoted criticism is that a British film can't sustain its first half . Even a fairly successful critically acclaimed film like 28 DAYS LATER suffers from this . In which case FOUR LIONS whilst never looking truly cinematic does tend to buck the trend by picking up in the second half
This is a film that courted controversy before it even opened . " How dare anyone even consider making a comedy film about terrorists " screamed the tabloids but the British press - unlike the twisted comedy genius that is Chris Morris - aren't known for their sense of humour . The humour in the first half of the film is relatively hit and miss . There's some occasional laughs but much of the jokes centre around a bunch of wannabe jihadists standing around talking to each other and the jokes start to wane
This would have been the best half in most other Brit flicks but once their plan comes to fruition and decide to bomb the London marathon things start to pick up . Morris creates near the knuckle mean spirited humour at its darkest . People dying poignant violent needless deaths has never been funnier . And just remember it's only a film - no human beings, terrorists or honey monsters were harmed during its making
This is a film that courted controversy before it even opened . " How dare anyone even consider making a comedy film about terrorists " screamed the tabloids but the British press - unlike the twisted comedy genius that is Chris Morris - aren't known for their sense of humour . The humour in the first half of the film is relatively hit and miss . There's some occasional laughs but much of the jokes centre around a bunch of wannabe jihadists standing around talking to each other and the jokes start to wane
This would have been the best half in most other Brit flicks but once their plan comes to fruition and decide to bomb the London marathon things start to pick up . Morris creates near the knuckle mean spirited humour at its darkest . People dying poignant violent needless deaths has never been funnier . And just remember it's only a film - no human beings, terrorists or honey monsters were harmed during its making