Adulthood
2008, 99mins, 15
Director: Noel Clarke
Writer: Noel Clarke
Cast includes: Noel Clarke, Adam Deacon, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Danny Dyer, Jacob Anderson, Red Madrell, Femi Oyeniran, Ben Drew
UK Release Date: 20th June 2008

On release in 2006 Kidulthood kicked up a fair storm in the UK, the films examination at the daily lives of teens in Britain was hard hitting and for many to harsh and brutal in it's depiction of the drug, sex and alcohol fuelled chaos that consumes the British highstreets. The movie had flaws but was ultimately successful in capturing your attention and in drawing convicted and efficent turns from it's young cast, allowing the picture to go fourth and prosper especailly within the demographic that the story chronicles. Now in 2008 we have a sequel directed by last times writer and supporting player Noel Clarke, in the previous film he was the villian now he's the anti-hero. For me Adulthood sounded unnessecary and confused in it's conception but once you've watched it, the majority should agree it's a worthwhile and poignant continuation of a nicely structured British story.
Sam Pill (Noel Clarke) has six years after the murder of Trife been released from jail. His time in the joint was rough and he made more enemies than friends but thankfully a reformed Sam is ready to rejoin the society he left. He's willing to make peace with his sin and attempt to correct the wrongs he committed but those affected are less willing to hear his pleas for tranquility. Trife's old buddy Jay (Adam Deacon) is looking for Sam to be finished with and begins to use every contact and person he possibly can so revenge can finally be served. Sam using a new found friend named Lexi (Scarlett Alice Johnson) proceeds to visit those he hurt in search of both forgiveness and info on those on the streets looking to finish him.
The supporting performances are maybe not quite as crisp on this occasion but Clarkes central turn is excellent and ultimately Adulthood offers a more complex and rewarding examination of it's key character than it's 2006 sibling. As Sam Clarke succeeds in making us engage and almost like a character we had previously been expected to loathe, a testiment to the mans ability as both a writer and actor. I prefered Adam Deacon's performance in this one in comparison to him previously, last time he was slightly annoying and served little genuine purpose to the story but here the plot requires a strong turn and the actor provides it. Newcomer Scarlett Alice Johnson is playing Jaime Winstone's sister from the previous slick and in many ways simply fills the void that actress leaves- she has many of the same habits and in truth doesn't feel like the plots most interesting or unique creation. Othe faces back are Femi Oyeniran and Red Mandrell and whilst both are given only a handful of screentime I was reasonably satisfied with what they provided the cinematic experience. Looking at a few of these actors profiles it's been a surprisingly quiet two years since completion of the last film, the hard hitting performances found there looked at the time like proper career starters. Danny Dyer is less annoying than usual in a mercifully small part whilst John Cornell remains just as scary as he was before, though his inclusion in this film is alot more questionable.
Again Clarke pulls no punches in his look at London youth focusing more closely this time at the transition from being a teen to an adult, and how little difference it can actually make on a life. The direction on this occasion is more energetic and grounded in reality, last time there where moments where it was criminally overdirected but with Clarke at the helm that problem is resolved. I'am not saying Adulthood doesn't gain the odd burst of visual ambition but this time the focus is more on the central character and plot rather than hyper kinetic party sequences.
To call a film like this entertaining or enjoyable isn't right, it's a hard watch but seeing as thats what it's going for it deserves a firm and hearty backslap. At times the street lingo grows wearing and a few performances are oddly irrelevant to the plot but ultimately this is well shot and well executed showing up much of the same edgy substance as it's predessecor. For those who enjoyed and related to the first film this offers more of the same good quality and brave filmmaking and for the uninitiated I'd really recommend you come back to this after you've taken a look at Kidulthood. Another sequel isn't needed as the story is left nicely on this occasion (though the end of Kidulthood was equally as apt) but as a brace of hard hitting youth flicks I'd really give these a spin.