Dope: Movie Review

Writer/director Rick Famuyiwa has a pretty solid body of work. I enjoyed “The Wood” (1999) and being the huge classic hip-hop fan that I am, I have a soft spot for “Brown Sugar” (2002). The filmmaker’s last effort “Our Family Wedding” (2010) was instantly forgettable , but Famuyiwa’s latest film “Dope” is his best work yet. Not only that, but it also happens to be one of my favorite releases of 2015 so far. This is definitely a crowd-pleaser but that doesn’t mean it isn’t smart, witty, and intelligent.

Malcolm (Shameik Moore) lives in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The fact that he is a straight-A student and likes to dress in fashions from two decades earlier, doesn’t help his social standing. Malcolm has two friends, Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons). The three of them are always together, they even formed their own hip-hop/punk fusion band.

When Dom (Hip-Hop artist A$ap Rocky), the neighborhood drug dealer asks Malcolm to invite the lovely Nakia (Zoë Kravitz)to his birthday party on his behalf, she only agrees to go if Malcolm goes as well. Not really keen on going to the party, Malcolm’s friends Jib and Diggy talk him into it. Unfortunately for Malcolm the party is cut short due to a drug raid. The next day, Malcolm discovers that someone hid their narcotics in his school backpack.

Now Malcolm must figure out how to get rid of these drugs, as well as a gun that was also in his pack. He knows he can’t walk into police station with a gun and drugs, not in his neighborhood. This leads to a whole series of events the requires Malcolm to turn his book smarts into street smarts and thankfully he has the help of his two best friends. After all, they talked him into going to that party in the first place. To make things even more stressful, Malcolm is also juggling his S.A.T. and an academic interview for a recommendation to Harvard.

Moore is fantastic as Malcolm, and the supporting cast is just as impressive. Famuyiwa takes us on a fun journey through Inglewood (something I am sure not many people say) and gives us one memorable movie. The humor is sharp and I probably laughed more in “Dope” than any broad comedy this year. This is must see! Make sure to sit through the end credits, because the dancing by Shameik Moore is far more entertaining that the last “Step Up” movie.

By: Marc Ferman