A fair chunk of this blog is often me wittering on about the films what I have done watched over the course of the year, usually on a lovely big screen in the darkened embrace of a cinema. For obvious reasons, I’ve not really ventured into a cinema since March (which was, as we all know, about fifteen years ago now) so the films of this year have been a bit thin on the ground. There have been some films slowly trickling out there, however, so let’s cast an eye over some of the stuff that might well be worth your time.
Get Duked! (2020)
Dir. Ninian Doff / Dur. 87 mins
Where:- Amazon Prime
In A Nutshell:- Four hapless boys on their Duke Of Edinburgh Award out in the Highlands discover that the local gentry don’t exactly take kindly to “their sort”...
The Good
I came across this on Amazon Prime and didn't have much in the way of expectations for it which is why I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be really rather good. I found myself laughing at it quite a lot, despite the slightly off-putting title (it was apparently originally called Boyz In The Woodz but I’m guessing references to a nearly thirty year old film* were not deemed to be a huge marketing win). The four leads are engaging and the film wisely swerves away from making the “bad” lads obnoxious, instead aiming for a more sympathetic portrayal. There’s a good supporting cast on offer including James Cosmo as a mushroom-munching farmer, Kate Dickie as a Highlands cop out to prove herself and Eddie Izzard as the creepily evil Duke. There’s a nice sense of pace and style to the film with some quick cuts and unexpected flourishes that put me in mind a little bit of Edgar Wright. It’s also a film that doesn’t outstay its welcome - sub-ninety minutes is a good duration for a first time director’s horror comedy.
The Bad
It’s a little rough and ready in places and has one moment of “why doesn’t that big group of people just help them out” but these are minor quibbles really.
The Verdict
A surprisingly fun and very British horror comedy romp, managing to throw in some deliberately heavy-handed satire and just about getting with it. Worth it for the absolutely ludicrous ending alone.
*Yup, Boyz n The Hood was made in 1991. No, you’re getting old.
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