Dope (2015) User Reviews

everything except pacing

[A_Different_Drummer · 7/10 · 27 October 2015]

If you watch a lot of films, you develop an instinct for what is happening behind the camera. Some films -- heck, most films -- are all about the money, the box office, the payoff.

Not so with auteur Rick Famuyiwa's DOPE. Running at an overlong 1:45, you sense that money might have been the last thing on this writer/director's mind when he crafted the script; created some of the most endearing characters in modern film; carefully snuck into the dialog his puns, life lessons and bon mots; extracted top performances from his team; and ultimately created an experience that more "overwhelms" the viewer with images and ideas than "overpowers."

I liked it. I really liked it. But I go out of my way to catch films that most mainstream viewers don't, because film as a medium fascinates me.

The other IMDb members have done some great reviews and I don't want to repeat what has been said.

I do want to add this: technically the film is almost perfect. There is nothing obviously wrong with any scene, trope, performance ... it all works. And passion? There is tons of passion, nicely hidden in the script, obvious only in the way the film alternates back and forth between fast noisy action, and contemplative self-absorbed scenes of the type you would be more likely to find in a Woody Allen picture. Even with voice-over.

It has everything but pacing -- and that is the critical flaw. Famuyiwa tried so hard to cram so much into DOPE that the film lacks internal rhythm. By the very end, the viewer, while appreciative of the characters and the story, is pretty much lost.

One hopes that in his next project Famuyiwa will pay more attention to the viewers and less to his own "bucket list" of things he wants to cram into the story.

In that way, what starts as merely good ... could be great.

Optimism in a hopeless place

[StevePulaski · 8/10 · 19 June 2015]

Rick Famuyiwa's "Dope" opens by providing its titular term with three distinct definitions - to paraphrase, the word can mean an illegal drug, a stupid person, or an affirmation of something's greatness. For the next one-hundred and ten minutes, the film works to illustrate all of those features in some way or another through a lens that's unique, refreshing, and respectful to its characters and their cultures.

Our main character is Malcolm (Shameik Moore), a black teenager carefully surviving in his crime/drug-ridden neighborhood of Inglewood, California, Despite being influenced by modern forces like the internet and Bitcoin, he loves nineties hip-hop and the culture of yesteryear, and so do his two closest friends, Jib ("The Grand Budapest Hotel"'s Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), who play in his punk band. Malcolm is going for what seems to be the impossible, which is applying for Harvard and forging a successful career path post-high school. However, in the mix of taking his SAT and writing his college entrance essay, Malcolm gets caught up in the underworld of illegal drugs and crime in the most unconventional way possible. After being invited to a party thrown by a drug dealer (rapper A$AP Rocky), Malcolm works to craft a name for himself by getting invested in the online drug-drealing world, using the help of a local hacker and Bitcoin to create a huge influx of revenue for him and his friends.

Famuyiwa attempts to do the same thing to African-Americans that John Hughes did with the middle class high school population in the 1980's, which is cut through the stereotypes, the incredulous romances, and what adults perceive teenagers to be like to really get to the heart of them as people. People with choices and decisions to make that are often times as big or as impacting as the ones adults make. The difference is, however, adults come equipped with life experiences where teenagers generally come equipped with their own instincts and peer pressure in their decision-making.

"Dope" shows the constant struggles of being a moral teenager engulfed in a society driven by illegal behavior and surrounded by peers who are nudging you onto a more dangerous pathway than on which you'd like to travel. The fact that it pays homage to the music and the urban movies of the 1990's is interesting because "Dope" doesn't focus on an anti-hero in a gritty neighborhood, much like the films of that era did. Instead, adhering to the principles of Hughes, it turns to the geek and, in turn, humanizes and paints him as a character trying to find himself in the mix of all this madness.

Famuyiwa and cinematographer Rachel Morrison crossbreed the early 1990's hip-hop culture with the contemporary technology of the mid-2010's, causing a culture shock of epic proportions in "Dope"'s aesthetic variety. "Dope" has the cinematic look of acid-washed jeans, the feel of a sun-soaked day at the beach, and the smells of everything from acne cream, sunscreen, and marijuana ostensibly infused into every scene. It's the kind of aesthetic that's so detail-centric it almost channels the likes of Wes Anderson, minus the meticulous symmetry in every scene.

Shameik Moore must be given considerable praise for his role here, which can only be described as a breakout performance. His human characteristics, carefully painted by Famuyiwa, his conflicted personalities, and his subtle arrogance, all traits that, in the end, make him very likable, echo the sentiments of Cuba Gooding, Jr. in "Boyz 'N The Hood," another conflicted soul caught in between being moral in a morally bankrupt area or taking the easy way out. Alongside Revolori and Clemons, two supporting roles that, again, go far and beyond the call of supporting roles, Moore is a talented who you find yourself being unable to take your eyes off of throughout the entire film.

Above all the aesthetic and character charm, "Dope" is a surprisingly optimistic film. It doesn't get bogged down by environmental cynicism, even when Malcolm has to turn into the kind of people he never wanted to associate himself with. Famuyiwa takes a brave step in the opposite direction of his peers, capturing acts like drug-dealing and backhanded deals in a light that accentuates joy and positivity, but it's all this that make "Dope" an even more fascinating character study, coming of age story, and a subversive tale about life in an urban area.

"Dope" - come for the comedy, stay for the drama, leave entertained - and thinking.

[CleveMan66 · 7/10 · 20 June 2015]

As I was driving to the movie theater to see "Dope" (R, 1:43), I was thinking about how that word is usually used as a slang term and in one of three main ways. Then, as the movie opened, those three definitions appeared on the screen. (Thank you, filmmakers, for making it so easy for me to decide how to open this review.) In short, dope can mean a stupid person, something really cool or refer to an illegal drug. All this begs the question, which of those definitions applies to this film? Short answer: all of them.

The movie centers on highly intelligent black high school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his two friends, multi-racial Jib (Tony Revolori) and lesbian Diggy (Kiersey Clemons). Now, I only use these labels because these characters use them for themselves. (They also refer to each other using the n-word, a situation which is used both for laughs and social commentary.) Here's another label the three use for themselves: geeks. Malcolm, Jib and Diggy geek out over 1990s-era rap and hip-hop. They see the 90s as a golden age for these kinds of music and they dress accordingly. In their spare time, however, we see them practicing in their punk rock band. Yup, the three main characters use lots of labels, but they defy them at the same time. For example, even though they see themselves as geeks, it doesn't mean that they're not cool or are incapable of getting along with non-geeks. In short, these labels describe the characters, but don't define them. And that distinction is really what this movie is about.

"Dope" takes place in one of the rougher neighborhoods in L.A., another circumstance that Malcolm seems intent on rising above. He is just hanging out with his friends and working at getting into Harvard when a chance meeting with a neighborhood drug dealer named Dom (A$AP Rocky) gets him invited to Dom's birthday party at a local club. The party… doesn't exactly go as planned. Malcolm ends up leaving with Nakia (Zoë Kravitz), a girl who Dom thinks belongs to him, but seems more attracted to Malcolm for being "different from the others" (and maybe because he can help her pass her GED). The next day, Malcolm discovers that he has also left the party with a significant amount of Ecstasy (aka Molly) and a gun that does belong to Dom. When a cell phone in the bag rings, the caller demands the drugs. Before Malcolm can hand off the contents of his backpack, the cell phone rings again. It's Dom, calling from jail and warning Malcolm not to turn over the drugs to the other caller. Malcolm is caught in the middle.

He receives instructions from Dom as to where to take the drugs, but he and his friends are still being pursued by that first caller (Amin Joseph). Malcom, Jib and Diggy take the drugs to a fancy house where Dom sends them and they meet their contact's young adult children (Keith Stanfield and Chanel Iman). Daddy's not home, so the five of them decide to hang out. Things don't go much better at the house than they did at the club the night before, so Malcolm and his friends are forced to improvise. They concoct a plan to get rid of the drugs with relatively little risk to themselves and the possibility of some significant rewards. They enlist the help of an old acquaintance from band camp (who also happens to be both a druggie and a hacker) by the name of Will Sherwood (Blake Anderson). Their audacious plan may solve all their problems, or it may land them in jail – or worse. No matter what happens, the three friends seem destined to shed at least some of their labels, and maybe gain some new ones.

"Dope" reminds me of the inner-city-set films of the 90s (the very period with which the three main characters are obsessed), but with less violence and more laughs. The movie uses humor to add entertainment value to the story, but also as a different way of approaching some very important issues, including ongoing problems in our inner cities and the use of labels in our society at large. The film's pedigree certainly contributed to its effectiveness. "Dope" is produced (and partially narrated by) Forest Whitaker, while Sean Combs and Pharrell Williams share executive producer credits. It also doesn't hurt that the movie is so well-written and well-directed by Rick Famuyiwa ("Brown Sugar", "The Wood") and has a strong, though little-known cast.

Malcolm and his friends are appealing and sympathetic characters, but make some morally questionable decisions. While the script makes light of their circumstances, it also slyly comments on them, but without suggesting definitive right and wrong answers. This is a coming-of-age movie that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. There are a few too many loose ends for my taste and I found much of the plot to be a little too morally ambiguous, but this is still one of the best urban dramas in the past 20 years. To sum up this review, let me suggest some slightly altered meanings for the film's title: Dope can refer to some of the movie's main characters, the curse of their neighborhoods or anyone who won't at least consider seeing the film because of labels they may have already assigned to it. "B+"

Good Things Wrapped In A Mediocre Package

[joshvonhousen · 6/10 · 14 April 2016]

"A movie about nerds who love 90's hip-hop showing up a gangster? Yes, please!" was my initial reaction to this movie when I saw it on Netflix. So, last night, I stayed up and watched the movie. And...? Well, I think there's plenty of enjoyable things in this movie, but there's also just some dumb stuff that I can't get past that make this movie a little odd to me.

First of all, I really like Malcolm. He is an enjoyable lead, relate-able and is well developed, not to mention that the actor gives a solid performance. It's easy to care about this character.

I also really liked the set-up of the movie. It had an interesting idea and seemed to have a good way of carrying it out.

Thirdly, I also loved the comedy. There are some legitimately funny moments in this movie.

But...... Let's get into the bad.

This is a bland looking movie. The cinematography is pretty standard, the set design in lack luster, and, outside of Malcolm's clothing, nothing really draws your eye to the screen. Just blah.

The side characters. I have no connections to these side characters. Dicky I only remember because she was a lesbian. That's her only character trait. The other friend is also bland. He's so bland, I don't even remember his name. But the WORST was Malcolm's love interest. I don't remember her name, either. She just seems so self- centered, and all we know is that she dated this one guy and wants to go to Six Flags. Not enough to make me invested in her.

Lastly, the film doesn't know when to end. Seriously. It has, like, 4 different endings. I thought it was over when Malcolm revealed his plan to a man that screwed him over. The music swelled, and the line was given a lot of emphasis. But, NOPE! There's another ending where Malcolm gives a big speech, the music swells, and then there's a line with a lot of focus on it. Is it over? Nope! Chuck Testa! Then there's a boring third ending with the a fore mentioned love interest that we don't care about. There was a fourth ending, and that one is the best. It just ends with a sort of cliff hanger, and I appreciated that ending. The first ending and last ending are just fine. But, they just had too much to cram in and it became too crowded.

So, this film is pretty funny and mostly enjoyable, but I don't think I'm going to watch it again any time soon.

Irresistible Fun

[bloodclay · 9/10 · 20 June 2015]

"Dope" is not the movie that you probably expect when hearing the title. I want to stress that. The word itself has negative connotations (with most thinking immediately of drugs when they hear it), and though it certainly deals with things of that sort, it isn't really that simple. The few definitions of the word are addressed at the beginning of the film, most notably as a slang term referring to something that is "very good". This definition, my favorite of the few, seems to capture the movie in the best light.

Essentially, this is a coming-of-age picture. Our main character is Malcolm, a high-school senior who's obsessed with 90s hip-hop culture, and who constantly shows this affection by emulating the fashion and language of the time. He's a straight-A student with perfect SAT scores and seems to have everything under control - despite a few bullies - until he finds himself taking a chance invitation to a drug dealer's birthday party along with his two best friends. From there, he's taken on a crazy adventure littered with bad choice after bad choice, all the while juggling college applications and interviews that will surely determine his future.

Writer/Director Rick Famuyiwa strips the film of any tired clichés or stereotypes for African-American characters, and surprisingly manages to infuse details that question the issues of racism and class discrimination. But above all, he makes a really fun movie. The writing is sharp and humorous, with the acting from the main trio - Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, and Kiersey Clemons - complimenting it excellently. And though it's undoubtedly rough around the edges, its wit and ceaseless energy make it irresistible.

Overrated

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 16 December 2015]

Now this is what I call a very overrated movie. I was going to give it a five star rating but because I liked some of the music I will give it a six star rating. Dope is okay to watch once nut don't expect too much of it. The storyline is just weak, with a lot of nonsense, things that would absolutely not happen in real life. And by that I mean that three nerds from Inglewood would never get away with the deal they were implicated in. They would instead or end dead or in the slammer. I don't know where to categorize this movie. It's not a comedy nor a crime story. Maybe a drama, with some wannabe cool notes, I don't know. The only thing I liked about it was the music, the rest is below average.

Great Coming-Of-Age Film!

[thatkidwithouttheglasses · 9/10 · 5 April 2015]

The trailer was a great visual feast but it doesn't show the scale of the movie and how excellent it is. 3 kids from Inglewood, CA, a town we're usually not asked to care about, have to wise up about drug dealing. I actively tried to find a bad performance, and I couldn't find a single one. Unlike many other "black" films, this one has comedic elements and tries to get you to laugh using memes and potty humor. Typically, this would carry a negative connotation, but in the case of this movie it is excellently executed and the pace is so quick that you don't even care how juvenile it is. I encourage everyone to watch this movie when it releases in June, specifically on the 19th. I'm sure it won't have the story it did at Sundance, however. Open Road may change a few elements of the story, which would be a shame. I'm giving this one a 9/10, just in case the movie isn't as good as it once was at Sundance, so bear that in mind.

Can You Dig It?

[ThomasDrufke · 7/10 · 16 October 2015]

Coming out around the same time as Straight Outta Compton, which also deals with a group of friends in crime filled Cali that has a ton of music, Dope was a bit overshadowed in early August when it hit theaters. Make no mistake though, this is a really good film. It's highly entertaining, fast paced, and easily one of the most original screenplays of 2015 and perhaps of the past few years.

We follow a group of 'nerds' as they call themselves who are highly intelligent but also love 90's rap and jamming out themselves as their own band Awreeoh. It just so happens that they get caught up in a dangerously tricky situation involving some 'dope'. It's fair to say that most of what happens in the film is a bit too coincidental, it is. But what I loved most was this group of nerds and their reactions to each coinciding event. Shameik Moore plays the lead character, Malcom, and he does so wonderfully. If Moore plays his cards correctly, I think we will hear about this kid for years to come.

More importantly, you really buy into the groups dynamic. It never feels fake even when the situation surrounding them gets to be far- fetched. But I guess that also brings me to one of my negatives which is that after the first half or so it turns into Malcom's story. The first 45 minutes are great mainly because of the group's various endeavors. It's not a bad thing necessarily, it was just a tad less interesting. There's also a message behind the film that arises around the last 15 minutes or so and I can definitely see where it would be jarring to people. It doesn't take you out of the film per se but it is something you just have to accept.

So Dope's first half is up in there in my most entertaining 45 minutes of 2015. The last hour is fine but it definitely brings the film down a notch. If anything, Dope is worth watching if you're a fan of rap, a nerd, or you would like to see one of the best performances from someone who likely won't even be considered for an Oscar. Or maybe you just want to check in and see how you're favorite rappers Tyga and ASAP Rocky did on the big screen. Either way, check out Dope.

+Moore's breakthrough role

+Music

+Original idea turns out to be so fun

+Nerds seem like actual nerds

-Second half takes a big dip in quality

7.9/10

Very intelligent, funny and a refreshing look at coming-of-age films

[stephendaxter · 8/10 · 10 October 2015]

Grab a coming-of-age film with 3 innocent teens, slap an R (MA15+) rating on it and you get this very 'dope' film. Dope is easily one of the most interesting and by far unique films of the last few years. You go in expecting one thing, and come out of it getting something far from what you wanted. Usually that would be a bad thing, but this film was so intelligent and different that you can't help but leave with a smile on your face. I was expecting some sort of run of the mill coming-of-age comedy after seeing the trailer, but the film is much more complex than that, incorporating lots of themes and ideas that make you think while also keeping up the fun entertainment the whole way through. It was just a really refreshing thing to see in a world where most films today are just borrowing from other successful films. This movie has fantastic performances, an entertaining and fun plot that takes turns you never expect, and a great visual style that makes this stand out on its own in the Coming-Of-Age film genre.

Lets talk about these performances shall we, because these are three that will most likely get severely overlooked this year but i don't think it is the last we have heard of some of these actors. Your main guy Shameik Moore did an incredible job at playing Malcolm, this teenager who is trying to keep in line with school and college whilst all of these problems come his way that force him to be someone more than just the geek. He was great at conveying that this guy really wants to do good in the world but sometimes things happen that force you to act against your own instincts. He handled the serious intense scenes well, he delivered so great on the comedy and has definitely opened the door on his movie career. The other great performance was Tony Revolori who was so funny and witty and played his character well. I loved him in last years 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' so i had no doubt he would be great in this and he did not disappoint. His character could very easily been the dopey side character who is only around for comic relief but he proved to be an integral part of the film. But my favourite performance had to be by Kiersey Clemons who absolutely killed it in what is her breakout roll. She brought so much life and personality not only to her character but also to the film and made it infinitely more funny and entertaining. I can't wait to see her in more things because i loved her in this.

Lets talk about the plot, storytelling and structure of this film because it was mostly very very well made and told. I have to give a load of credit to the writers of this film because the plot for this film did not go in any direction i could've thought of in a million years. It was so engaging and there was a sense of urgency to the film, like, you always are wanting to know what will happen next and where the film is going to take you. Incredible writing that worked really really well. While i was watching the film i wasn't so thrilled with the first 15 minutes or so, i felt that it was taking too long to introduce these characters and showing things that didn't look like they were leading anywhere. But by the end of the film, everything about the beginning pays off, you get this very interesting before and after that incorporates some interesting themes about being yourself and thats where the film does great at incorporating some positive messages.

The film got a little patchy at times, where it was kind of dwelling on one thing when i wanted to move on to see what was going on with something else, but that was very quick and minor and didn't hurt it that much. In the end, this film was full of awesome, refreshing ideas that took the coming-of-age genre i love to new heights. Packed with comedy, some well used action, as well as incorporating crime and drama elements, this really was a complete package and is an indie film you should definitely check out and have a 'dope' ride. - 8.4

This film may not connect with you but I liked it

[sweeeetmikey · 7/10 · 6 October 2015]

DOPE review by Mike Smith

Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who's surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure.

This movie stuck with me for days. The story was rich, it kept me glued; it was exciting, crazy, funny, and all around a good watch. I connected with this film which is odd because I only share a small fraction of experience with this story. DOPE made me wanting more.

I really like that most of the cast is not well known; Shameik Moore is a great lead and his acting style reminds me of Don Cheadle. The fact that this was his first lead roll and he kept me glued to the screen makes me want to see what else he will do in his career. Tony Revolori is more of a comedic relief and Kiersey Clemons is more the voice of reason in the 3 person crew. DOPE has a big cast but everyone else is in and out really quickly. One person who made me laugh as soon as he hit the screen was Blake Anderson as the stoner hacker. There is so much to this movie that there could be another one made of just the co stars.

Sure this film is similar to others we have all seen in the past, the cuts and rewinds were well done and it felt different because it's been a while since I saw it in a film. I'm not a hip hop fan and not all of the music is hip hop and rap but I enjoyed it.

This film may not connect with you but I liked it. At times the film does drag a bit; most of the first act is forgettable and be prepared for more "N" words than Django unchained. Cheers and remember like won't suck as long as there is a good movie to watch.

7.5 out of 10

edited by Samantha Locke

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If you don't like it, You will at least enjoy it

[justmosuccess · 8/10 · 19 June 2015]

I can honestly say that if you don't love it, you will at least like it. The movie places Malcolm (Shameik Moore), in an unreal situation that will have you thinking, "What would I really do in this type of situation?" If you catch the jokes which is filled with young humor; mixed in with some reminders of childhood memories,then you will very much appreciate more than 3/4's of the movie.

During the movie, Malcolm and his two friends keep you optimistic that it all will workout in the end. They're different from their environment, they're very retro,and they have the personality that matches the old skool feel that they portray. The movie soundtrack gives you the same vibe. Every time the music cues in, you feel as though you are in the film with them. Now the movie may not be as good of the 8 that I gave it, but the soundtrack is surely worth an extra point or two.

I must give A$AP Rocky a decent review. His role as Dom in the movie kept you wondering what was going on. Friend or Foe.. we may never really know. Maybe it's both depending on how you view the film. He makes you hate to hate him but makes it so easy to do so!

This could be one of those summer sleeper movies (Movies that don't get the attention that it deserves). I am not sure if the trailers entices anyone to see the movie though. I figured what potential the movie could have, so I decided to see it. It had some good comedy, but I am not exactly sure if it hit as hard as it could. The bright side is that it did do a good job with at least keeping a grin on your face. You also left the movie kind of confused and wanting to know just a little more. Other than that, if you are someone who wanted to see the movie, you will most likely enjoy the movie. If not, you will find something to like about it, at least one or two characters. This movie is not for everyone, but I will recommend it to the family who can handle maturity and the graphic nature of the film together. After all of that, I will give the movie and 8 out of ten. Great job to Shameik Moore, Kiersey Clemons, Tony Revolori, and the rest of supporting cast!

Is "Dope" a black eye for my city?

[seansoulo73 · 6/10 · 19 June 2015]

"Dope" revolves around the misadventures of a trio of band camp geeks who get caught up in a set of "hood" or should I say, "WOOD" circumstances that they must figure their way out of all while trying to stay alive and true to their square selves. The leader of this geek squad, Malcom is a 4.0 GPA, rock-star-in-the-making, high school senior with Ivy League dreams of attending Harvard University. Still, somehow I left the theater scratching my head and applauding.

Like the film's Director, Rick Famuyiwa, I too was born in 1973 and bred in Inglewood, CA. In fact, I dedicated an entire chapter to my city in my coming of age memoir, "The Avocado Tree" released in 2012. So, as an author and screenwriter, my biggest problem with the film was its overuse of the word "nigga." Honestly, I don't think I've heard it used that much since NWA's tracks "Real Niggaz" and "Niggaz 4 Life" off the "EFFIL4ZAGIN" album.

For those that may not know, Rick Famuyiwa is the same guy that wrote and directed the 1999 film "The Wood;" another a coming-of-age story about life in Inglewood, CA, which reminded me of my own childhood and still one of my favorites. But, with Pharrell Williams as executive producer on "Dope" and the likes of Forest Whitaker and P. Diddy (Sean Combs) also putting money behind it, I wondered if there was pressure from up high to literally have the word "nigga" in every scene of the movie…and I do mean every single scene. Was nobody just a little uncomfortable during the table reads? "Nigga" was used so much that the dialogue became inauthentic. Famuyiwa even had people saying "nigga" in scenes that really didn't call for it, like Kimberly Elise's scene on the bus. Did she really need to say it? I think not. It was overkill to say the least, even for a native of "The Wood" (the 'Aves' to be exact) like myself.

I hope that those suburbanites that go and see this movie will not leave the theater believing that people from Inglewood have no alternative vernacular and that "nigga" is every other word in sentences we form. To put it simple, we don't talk like that! At least the majority of us don't. I would have liked to see a more mature and socially responsible Rick Famiyuwa as a director/screenwriter who's been in the game nearly two decades. I found it odd that the film's protagonist Malcom (a straight A student) was smart, unique and comfortable enough in his own skin to accept his own geekdom, all while others (thugs) referred to him as a "nigga," but somehow although Harvard bound, he wasn't smart or unique enough to NOT refer to himself as one. Had he chosen the latter, I would have had all the more respect for the kid. I mean this kid knew the definition of a "slippery slope," but didn't know the etymology of the "N" word? Or simply chose to ignore it. "COME ON SON!!!!"

Overall, I liked the movie. I'm from the Wood and get it totally. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and kicked it all over LA as a kid from the Jungles to the Bottomz and beyond. "Dope" reminded me of a time when hip hop heads like myself were young and impressionable. Your style was either east coast (Rakim, Run-DMC, EPMD) who rocked sweat suits and fat gold chains. Or your style was west coast (NWA, Ice-T and Too Short) so you rocked Fila shirts, khakis, chucks and corduroy crocasacks. But, for cats like me who were somewhere in the middle, De La Soul appeared one day and we finally found our place in hip hop. Not gangster and not street hustler, but cool kids (like Malcolm) with backpacks; kids cool enough to rock a high top fade or gumby haircut with an African medallion, a rayon shirt and baggy jeans. We loved De La's "Plug Tunin'" and "Buddy," "Funkin Lessons" by X-Clan, Tribe's "Bonita Applebum," in addition to Pat Benatar's "We Are Young" and "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys. That was "DOPE!"

Promising set up, but after 15 minutes story takes a nose-dive

[peter-stead-740-486963 · 4/10 · 6 September 2015]

Every technical aspect, direction, soundtrack, performances gets a gold star. But the story just gets sillier with each second, culminating in a preachy ending which seems to want to shoehorn depth into a film which has been lacking it for the most part.

The easiest comparison here is with House Party, but where the comedy in that film was outlandish, it was at least believable and organic. Malcolm as the hero is given many a test, but whereas a typical Hero will meet these tests in a way that really says something specifically about him, the waves really part suspiciously quickly for Malcolm. He gets jumped by his high school bullies and he gets them to back down by pointing a gun at them. Implausibly, they are not packing. He is made to sell the MDMA he found in his backpack - like a drug king pin would trust someone who he had never met, and surprise surprise this is Malcolm's opportunity to screw the screwer.

It ends up a clichéd, lazy exercise that, apart from some early set-pieces, manages to be neither funny nor dramatic.

Review

[catpantry · 7/10 · 26 March 2020]

Just watched this. I dont know, it was good, it was ok. It was like when your driving down the freeway trying to stay awake and you look over to see an albertsons plastic bag in the passenger seat. At that moment anything that really makes you care is literally forcing you to believe stuff.

A Film for the "Now" Generation

[cattjones · 8/10 · 19 June 2015]

To give you a little background on this film….. it was written and directed by a virtual unknown, Rick Famuyiwa, who apparently is a close acquaintance of the producer, Forest Whitaker. I'm not really sure how Pharrell Williams got involved as executive producer, but that's neither here nor there. I am just glad that more minorities are giving new and upcoming filmmakers a chance to show their craft. This film was nominated at the Cannes and Seattle film festival and actually won the award for editing at the Sundance film festival. I have to agree that the editing on this film was brilliantly done. When this film first started I was a little confused as to what decade I was in. There sat Malcolm (Shameik Moore) with a high-top fade sitting at the kitchen table. Then I spotted the cell phone (which is what confused me). The time period is cleared up rather quickly, so I was relieved by that. This story really is about a nerdy kid, Malcolm and his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) who find themselves in unfamiliar territory and have to adjust their way of thinking in order deal with the situations that arises. There are many issue that are addressed in this film and there was even one scene that kind of paid homage to The Breakfast Club (which they actually mentioned in the film). There was also a little flavor of Boyz in the Hood and Cooley High (I know I'm dating myself, but oh well). Along the way, Malcolm finds himself head over heels for Nakia (Zoe Kravitz) who is affiliated with a somewhat shady guy (okay, really shady guy) named Dom (Rakim Mayers). This is where the whole mess gets started. One of the main points of the film (there were many) is the kind of expectations that people have of individuals that come out of the hood. As someone who grew up in the hood and "across the tracks" I can attest to that. It was fortunate that I grew up in a military family and was not afraid to leave. Most of the folks I grew up with are either dead, in jail or still live there. I did not think that I would like this film as much as I did. I think that they wrapped it up nicely and with a bit of a twist. I highly recommend this film.

It's Pretty Dope.

[RustyShacklefordd · 7/10 · 16 July 2015]

As much as I enjoy Hollywood Blockbusters, it's always nice to get a nice independent film during the summer season to get away from all the superhero's and explosions that have become routine over the past few years. Dope is a film that fits the criteria.

The film tells the story of Malcom, a geek living in the ghettos of L.A. who's ultimate dream is to attend Harvard. While in the middle of working his way through the applications process in the SAT's, Malcom and his friends find themselves in an unlikely situation after they attend an underground party.

Dope features many things that make independent films so refreshing from big-budget Hollywood films. There's an energy and heart here that's absent in many feature films today. You can tell this was a project where those involved had a drive to bring their vision to the big screen. While the John Hughes-esque story of teens getting into trouble is familiar, the focus on a geeky African-American in an urban climate manages to make it feel somewhat fresh and relevant in today's social climate. It takes advantage of it's environment and does and excellent job of capturing urban L.A.

The other strong area of the film is it's performances. The three leads all are great and have fantastic chemistry with one another. The Shameik Moore is fantastic as Malcom carrying the film with his charisma and has a strong career ahead of him. The supporting cast is good as well, the highlight being Blake Anderson who I normally can't stand stealing every scene he's in. These characters are not only great because they are fun, but they also feel realistic and actually sympathetic. The writing is grounded and witty along with some good social commentary about identity. Oh, and the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a film this year.

As much as there is to like about Dope, it's not a great movie. The main problem with Dope is that the tonally it's very uneven. It's ambitiousness results in it feeling like 3 or 4 different movies put together. It's not so much that I had a problem with where the story was going, but rather that the transition is sloppy. The story is also rather predictable, especially in the 2nd half which isn't as strong as the 1st half. Towards the end, the social commentary which I actually didn't mind for the most part starts to get preachy and heavy handed which felt out of place as well.

Even though Dope doesn't quite live up to the Sundance praise it received, it's still a very good film and one of the most enjoyable I've seen this summer. It's great performances, energy, and fresh- take on the genre overcome it's predictable plot and unevenness. Overall, I'd say that Dope is in fact pretty dope.

It's my turn

[nogodnomasters · 10/10 · 6 February 2018]

Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is a geek growing up in "The Bottom" section of Inglewood. He wants to go to Harvard. He hangs out with two geek friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) is a lesbian who likes Justin Bieber. They love things from the 1990s. While attending a birthday party at a club there was a shoot out and in all the excitement Malcolm grabs the wrong knapsack and gets the one filled with Molly.

With the owner busted, there are others who want the bag while Malcolm stands at the crossroads of his life.

Malcolm breaks the stereotype and provides us with an interesting character. There other characters were not as well developed, but were played well. This was one "thug" movie that I enjoyed.

Guide: F-bomb. Near sex. Nudity (Chanel Iman of Victoria Secret)

The Vidiot Reviews....

[capone666 · 7/10 · 16 October 2015]

Dope

In the 1990s, all you had to do to get the latest fashion trends was shoot the person wearing the clothes you wanted.

Unfortunately, as this dramedy confirms, nowadays you have to actually purchase your Air Jordans.

When a local pusher (A$AP Rocky) asks him for a favor, '90s rap aficionado Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his friends (Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons) find themselves sitting on a backpack of MDMA belonging to a Harvard alumnus (Roger Guenveur Smith).

Although Malcolm agrees to sell the powdered Molly for the cultured kingpin, in exchange, he wants to be accepted into the Ivy League university.

A satirical commentary on the limited career choices for African American males, Dope is a smart and stylish coming-of-age anecdote with notable cameos, an imposing soundtrack, and a charismatic young lead, that never feels preachy or accusatory.

Incidentally, you only have to sell inhalants to get accepted into Yale.

Green Light

vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

Very disappointing

[Red_Identity · 11 October 2015]

This was seriously disappointing. So much of it just completely overwhelmed me. It was so "busy" to the point that I became totally uninterested in what was going on halfway through. I think the performances are very good, but the directing here is the problem more than anything. It just comes across extremely proud of itself and kind of obnoxious, and way, way too much style for its own good. That ending is just proof of how the filmmakers seem to enjoy toying way too much with their audience, and I would usually give credit for that but it was honestly annoying. I don't think it's horrible though, thus a 5. I wonder how audiences will take to it.

A funny and unique adventure that leads to a good message at the end.

[parrot007 · 9/10 · 4 November 2019]

I loved this movie. They developed the setting very well and made the characters stand out from it. The idea of the "slippery slope" was something that I kept thinking about after watching it. That idea forms a plotline that builds tension and urgency while still being pretty funny, as is the movie in general. Also great performances from the main characters and ASAP Rocky. No huge problems with it besides that the second act drags a little bit, not every joke lands, and writing is sometimes a little bit forced.

A fun, engaging coming-of-age flick, but the moral is a little too muddled for me

[mollrat101 · 7/10 · 24 June 2015]

I'm going to be honest I wanted to watch this film because I was excited about seeing a teen film that didn't just have the typical white, male protagonist. What I saw was really engaging film featuring a likable and sympathetic protagonist, played wonderfully by Shameik Moore, who reluctantly goes on the dangerous path his environment has always encouraged him to go on. The film had wonderful music and great performances particularly our three leads. Zoe Kravitz is also good as Moore's love interest, in fact I wish she was in the movie a little more. Famuyiwa does a great job of giving us a taste of Malcolm's environment and the neighborhood feels like an essential character. The movie makes light of a lot of the violence that happens (which can be a problem) but in my opinion the best scene is toward the end. After all the work Malcolm has to go through to get the money that he earned from selling drugs, he is confronted again by his school bullies and one of them takes his bag that contains the cash. Malcolm threatens them with a gun and pleads with them to give it back. The look on his face was powerful. This is the closest Malcolm ever comes to completely losing himself to this job and he knows it. But the narrative is also brilliant because it doesn't condemn him for doing that. It feels more like it's telling him he did what he had to do to keep what he earned. That's basically what most of the movie has been about: people constantly testing him to fight for his dignity. Malcolm has been content for so long to letting people step on him and his environment dictates that violence is how you achieve respect. I feel like this scene loses its meaning somewhat because the bully now decides he respects Malcom after he POINTED A GUN AT HIM. And Malcolm is okay with that?! I'm convinced this is not who Malcolm is but this starts to explain some of my problems with this movie. First problem, the moral "Dope" feels mixed to me. When Malcolm is trying to get rid of the drugs, he has to stop his journey to attend his Harvard college interview. He finds out that his interviewer is none other than the person Dom (the guy who planted the drugs on him) wants him to give the drugs too. Austin Jacoby (A.J.), played by Roger Guenveur Smith, refuses to take the drugs and tells Malcolm that because the delivery wasn't right it is now Malcolm's responsibility to get rid of it. And he threatens him and his loved ones in order to force him. Malcolm seeks help from an old friend Will in order to sell the drugs and not get caught. Using his ingenuity, Malcolm manages to sell all the drugs through the help of his friends and receive his profits without being detected. He meets Jacoby again and he reveals that he blackmailed him to not telling on Malcolm or his friends by tying the account he made to sell into Jacoby's personal accounts. Essentially Malcolm now has a guaranteed admission into Harvard through the use of blackmail. Um...what? We focus on Malcolm's admission essay. He states his reasons he should be accepted and then ends with asking if he were white would people even be asking why he wants to go to Harvard. That's a fair point but again the Jacoby thing makes this message look weaker to me. A white kid using his connections to get into Harvard is a privilege that Malcolm doesn't have but he evens the playing field through blackmail. Does that make it right? Is racism a justification for this? I'm not sure and the narrative doesn't give us an answer. Plus it also begs the question could Malcolm have gotten to Harvard through his own merit. We won't know now. I bring this up because I feel like "Dope" is supposed to send a positive message about achieving your dreams no matter your background but if Malcolm accomplishes this in such an unethical way is that still a hopeful message? I think it is supposed to be and that's where "Dope" loses me especially Malcolm is presented as a moral good character. I just wonder whether that could've been reworked. Some minor things: the n-word was said to death, that stupid debate about white people's chance to say the n-word (I get that they're idiots like this but the debate lasted way to long), the narration by Forrest Whittaker I didn't care much for (I wish Malcolm had said this stuff or didn't tell us at all, that small scene revealing Diggy's sexuality felt so pointless (Why did they have to narrate it? Just let it come up naturally in conversation. They act like they have to clear the air about it which makes it feel like a big deal even if the narrative claims otherwise) and I liked the fact that they tried to present this rough neighborhood in a more comedic fashion but sometimes it just made the tone of the film feel uneven (and some of just wasn't funny; like a horrible scene of a child being murdered in the beginning and making a joke with the blood splattered Gameboy). Despite the numerous problems I had, I had a lot of fun watching this film but I think it's good if people just take some of the messages the film offers. The comedic chemistry between the three leads was wonderful and there was some decent romantic chemistry between Moore and Kravitz. It's worth checking out for the likable and sympathetic characters, the great music, a few laughs and a mostly hopeful message.

Nice Lovely Movie. A Must Watch

[johnfalz-73014 · 10/10 · 24 September 2016]

Very Nice Movie. Loved It from the beginning to the end, though some scenes proved to be kind of racist. Still loved it. Am white. And this happens to be a very great movie. Try watching it. In fact Don't try. Must Watch it. Great movie. Teaches You a lot and that you shouldn't give up on yourself. Nice Movie. Great Story.. Nice Acting You Learn a lot Watched it during my vacation in Lagos, They loved it so much. Good Ratings for this movie. It really did picture a lot. Also a good movie for Drummers. I have to say it is by Far the best movie i enjoyed during my vacation in Lagos. It not only keeps you really interested, l.t makes you feel connected.

my notes

[FeastMode · 7/10 · 30 June 2019]

Good movie with a good story. lots of interesting and memorable parts and some funny parts as well. definitely enjoyed the experience (1 viewing)

Overrated

[KineticSeoul · 5/10 · 5 October 2015]

I want to say this is a dope movie, but I personally don't think it really is all that. I mean I think one of the reasons why some people like this movie is because of the protagonist. Who is this geek that is into the 90's, that a lot of geeks and maybe nerds can relate with. He is unique in his own way, but he is relatable. So before watching this movie, I had no idea what this movie would be about. I first thought it would be a endearing movie about a group of retro geeks and the relationship between then and their pursuits. However this movie is about 3 friends who are geeks that are into 90's style and music that gets entangled in a drug trade. This is a coming of age movie that I really wanted to enjoy because of the unique group of friends in this. The set up however started out really interesting and enticing, but started to go downhill after few minutes in. And when the who drug aspect of the movie kicked in, the movie got boring. I think this movie would have had something if it kept going with the set up it had from the beginning. The acting is pretty good and believable though, especially the interactions. And I did like the message about racism and discrimination but it just didn't connect that well in the end. Because it felt like it was going in a entirely different vibe out of nowhere. It just lacked the impact or the endearing charm I wanted out of it. I didn't really like this movie nor did I enjoy it all that much. This movie is a bit bizarre but not in a good way either. Despite the Slippery-slope direction, this movie just kept faltering. And I am not those people that nitpick movies for it's exposure or point fingers at a film because of my own morals. Which some reviewers are bashing on this film because of. However this movie didn't do it for me.

5.5/10

refreshing take on a coming of age in an atypical environment

[pcrprimer · 7/10 · 7 November 2015]

Not watching TV, I never really heard about this movie. So I guess there wasn't a big marketing budget which is understandable with a small movie. So I simply saw a well rated movie and decided to give it a shot. Needless to say, I was very impressed with what I saw. A very unique and original story with a lot of heart and comedy. With a movie full of relatively new comers I was very impressed with the young talent, in particular with the lead. The one thing that really stood out of place was the heavy handed monologue at the end of the story. Up until that point the role of race in the story was there but subtle. It seemed out of place to add it but I think it's more due to the current societal climate. Regardless, it's still a very refreshing movie that you can't go wrong with watching.