Parents' Guide to Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins

Fans of the British franchise that this extremely violent action crime drama exists within, should find something to enjoy in this prequel. No less because Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins brings all of their favorite characters together once more, though it remains a flawed production on the whole. As a piece of visual filmmaking, there is plenty to be admired. Cinematically it's a very accomplished piece, there's sharp editing, and the cinematography is impressive. The narrative too is interesting, taking the viewer on a voyage through British culture at a time of significant change, through the tumultuous period of the former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War, through to the rise in soccer hooliganism, and then rave culture and the drug use that came with it.

That said, it does fall into archetypal British gangster flick trappings at times. The screenplay leaves a lot to be desired, with almost every other line relying on the use of a swear word to emphasize any point being made. The film does walk along a tightrope in depicting a culture that is problematic, without glorifying it, and though the stylistic approach to the storytelling could lean this toward the latter, ultimately the film condemns the behavior, and shows the negative repercussions that come from living this lifestyle. The less said about the hair and make-up the better, as the actors look their ages, which happen to be a lot older than the characters played. Sticking a (hilarious) wig on Stone, and putting him under a sun-bed for an hour doesn't make him look like he's in his 20s, sorry. Let's just say to get through this, a suspension of disbelief is required.