Four Lions
Why extremism is best left to the experts
Review
Itchy generally try to avoid conversations involving the rocky topics of race, religion, terrorism et al. because we are truly awful at being politically correct. In fact we should probably be included in the leaders' debate, you'd all have a right laugh. So you would think us wise to avoid passing comment on Four Lions, the new film from offensive-comedy genius Chris Morris. But where's the fun in keeping our opinions to ourselves?
Morris, the director, most famously the bloke behind the risky but hilarious Brass Eye, decided after realising that jihadists are just some blokes in a room with grand plans that he could definitely find a whole lot of humour in terrorism. And he wasn't wrong. Four Lions follows the best efforts of a group of British Muslims to get something done in the name of Islam. After a fairly unsuccessful trip to a training camp and some ill-used household bleach incidents, it becomes apparent that these boys ought really to have left well alone.
Although the concept is treading on thin ice in anyone's book, there's not the slightest hint that the writers were harbouring racial hatred behind their comedian masks. It's not possible. Four Lions is just too funny. Joke punch lines range from mini babybels, Alton Towers, exploding animals and whether or not the Honey Monster could be classed as a bear. And that's not even the half of them, we're smiling to ourselves thinking back over the countless scenes that will no doubt be immediately written into comedy history.
Thankfully, Four Lions even achieves more than just ramming in lines to snigger at, thanks to characters that are at once believable, ridiculous and pulled off perfectly by the wonderful cast. Not too often, but certainly more than once, you'll feel a pang of emotion. Then almost immediately forget it ever happened and start snorting with laughter again. A fresh new addition to the British comedy hall of fame.
www.four-lions.co.uk
Morris, the director, most famously the bloke behind the risky but hilarious Brass Eye, decided after realising that jihadists are just some blokes in a room with grand plans that he could definitely find a whole lot of humour in terrorism. And he wasn't wrong. Four Lions follows the best efforts of a group of British Muslims to get something done in the name of Islam. After a fairly unsuccessful trip to a training camp and some ill-used household bleach incidents, it becomes apparent that these boys ought really to have left well alone.
Although the concept is treading on thin ice in anyone's book, there's not the slightest hint that the writers were harbouring racial hatred behind their comedian masks. It's not possible. Four Lions is just too funny. Joke punch lines range from mini babybels, Alton Towers, exploding animals and whether or not the Honey Monster could be classed as a bear. And that's not even the half of them, we're smiling to ourselves thinking back over the countless scenes that will no doubt be immediately written into comedy history.
Thankfully, Four Lions even achieves more than just ramming in lines to snigger at, thanks to characters that are at once believable, ridiculous and pulled off perfectly by the wonderful cast. Not too often, but certainly more than once, you'll feel a pang of emotion. Then almost immediately forget it ever happened and start snorting with laughter again. A fresh new addition to the British comedy hall of fame.
www.four-lions.co.uk
