Much Ado About Lauren (12a)
Dir. Dave Jenkins
Reviewed by Matt Adcock
It’s a timeless tale – boy next door meets and falls for pretty girl, pretty girl likes sporty floppy haired hunk better, but enough about my younger life – this is also the plot for Luton’s first blockbuster big screen epic… Okay so the plot isn’t a million miles away from a million other movies but Much Ado About Lauren, isn’t like those other movies. This Bedfordshire odyssey hails from the unique brand of filmmaking that can be readily identified as a ‘Wade Bros production’ – yes they of the weird and wonderful short You Tube hit film franchise The Woods. Here thanks to a witty script (by Dave ‘yeah I also directed this’ Jenkins), spirited performances from a talented young cast and a massive dose of feel good magic, Much Ado About Lauren comes out swinging as this year’s surprise summer teen comedy hit.
At the sold out Cineworld charity premiere this week Much Ado About Lauren punched way above its zero budget in terms of entertainment, delivering some classic scenes of mirth infused with real teen pathos as it charted the story of love’s often rocky path through a modern high school. Shot on location in and around Luton the film stars the widely tipped future Hollywood leading man Simon Wade (think Daniel Day Lewis but blonder and younger) as the unlucky in love Greg. But just as school playwright Greg finds shapely new girl Lauren (Abi-Louise Murray) to be the answer to his youthful fantasies, she only has eyes for the meat-headed school rugby captain.
What’s a young chap to do? Especially when he has a cute but completely demented stalker fan (pure over the top comic class from Sophia Guinchard) tracking his every move… Add to the mix a show stealing turn by elder sibling Tom Wade as his on screen slacker brother ‘Lenny’ – deserving of his own spin off road trip movie surely and even older Wade brother Paul as a compromised drama teacher, stir in some goofy friends and splice with heart warming antics… Before you can say the words ‘cult comedy classic’ you’ll be laughing, crying and singing along to the catchy soundtrack – probably all at the same time. The cast all give 110%, the cinematography is crisp and the special effects budget well used (there wasn’t one)…
All in all Much Ado About Lauren is a roaring success that bodes very well for future flicks from Jenkins and / The Wade Bros. Luton can stand up and be proud of this fine slice of school yard heartbreak comedy – the world should take note!
DARKMATTERS RATING SYSTEM (all ratings out of maximum 10 but '-' is bad whereas '+' is good):
Endorphin Stimulation: ööööööö (7)
+ Quality writing and production all round
Tasty Action: öööööööö (8)
+ Eye watering set pieces are great!
Gratuitous Babeness: öööööööö (8)
+ Special mention to Gillian Van Der Merwe whose ‘babeblicious’ cameo is awesome
Mind Blight / Boredom: ööö (3)
- Zips along without a dull moment
Comedic Value: öööööööööö (9)
+ Side splittingly funny in places
Arbitrary final rating: ööööööööö (9)
Respect is due to the Wade Bros!!
Liable to make you:
"Wish you back in high school"
DM Poster Quote:
“Nothing can prepare you for the ultimate adventure... love"
5 comments:
Legend mate! Thanks for this. Was a pleasure having you as our VIP!
fantastic review Matt, really enjoyed the film and definitely think it puts Luton on the map in terms of teenage comedy budget movie. Glad you liked the songs.
Really enjoyed the film.
Big well done to the Wades and Dave and everyone else in it :)
gill x
Hi Matt, really good to finally meet you last night, thanks for the kind and very encouraging review! I will probably quote you in some forthcoming correspondence with film festivals! Take care, looking forward to meeting you again.
i did base the majority of my performance on daniel day lewis' in there will be blood...glad you noticed that
simon
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