UK Release: 20th June 2008
IMDb Plot Summary: Six years after Sam Peel is released from jail for killing Trife, he realizes that life is no easier on the outside than it was on the inside and he's forced to confront the people he hurt the most. Some have moved on, others are stuck with the repercussions of his actions that night, but one thing's for certain - everyone has been forced to grow up. Through his journey Sam struggles to deal with his sorrow and guilt and something else he didn't expect - those seeking revenge. As he's pursued by a new generation of bad boys, Sam sets about trying to get the message across to his pursuers that they should stop the violence, much like Trife tried to tell him all those years ago. Can Sam stop the cycle of violence and make something positive from the destruction he caused or will his journey into Adulthood end here?
Watched on TV: Sunday 24th July 2011
Rating: 15
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1hr 39mins
Tagline: After 'Kidulthood' comes 'Adulthood' ...
IMDb Plot Summary: Six years after Sam Peel is released from jail for killing Trife, he realizes that life is no easier on the outside than it was on the inside and he's forced to confront the people he hurt the most. Some have moved on, others are stuck with the repercussions of his actions that night, but one thing's for certain - everyone has been forced to grow up. Through his journey Sam struggles to deal with his sorrow and guilt and something else he didn't expect - those seeking revenge. As he's pursued by a new generation of bad boys, Sam sets about trying to get the message across to his pursuers that they should stop the violence, much like Trife tried to tell him all those years ago. Can Sam stop the cycle of violence and make something positive from the destruction he caused or will his journey into Adulthood end here?
My Review: AdULTHOOD sequels KiDULTHOOD the acclaimed British drama that not only showed British teenage life as it was, but did in a slick, gritty style that held its own against the Hollywood heavyweights.
This time around not only is Adulthood written and starring Noel Clarke, but directed too. Sam is well and truly the centre of this film, as we follow him being released from jail after serving six years for the murder of Trife at the end of Kidulthood and what that day entails. He naturally goes looking to see his mum, meeting with many of Kidulthood’s characters. We see how they’ve changed some in good ways like Alisa looking after her and Trife’s daughter
or in bad ways such as Jay who has become a violent drug dealer obsessed with revenge for the murder of his best friend Trife. Once he hears Sam’s been released he hires a hit man (that of Ben Drew aka Plan B, who I was pleasantly surprised to see and did an extraordinary job as a young boy tainted by greed) to kill Sam. What follows is a lot of beating up on Sam’s part.
Along his journey Sam meets Lexi, played brilliantly by Scarlett Alice Johnson, who has troubles of her own - an addiction to drugs, depression and a painful past. They find comfort in one another as they relieve their suffering.
As a Doctor Who fan it was also nice to see Adjoa Andoh play Sam’s mum as well as Camille Coduri popping up on the bus. It gave it a nice touch. And Andoh was especially moving.
The ending wasn't as neat as I would have liked and it wasn’t as controversial as it was previous - but that was always going to be hard to achieve after the success of Kidulthood - but it still packed a punch and was definitely better produced, acted and shot than most British drama’s nowadays.
The creative direction was still there I was glad to see, the camera movements were not distracted or toned down by success; the inspiring creativity and innovation was still there to enjoy. It was interesting to see the progression of Kidulthood’s story - it wasn’t needed as Kidulthood can definitely stand on its own, but it was wanted.
Score: 7/10
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