[yasr_overall_rating]
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.
The movie “Dope” is exactly what it says it is. Its dual meaning which is literally defined in the first few scenes, is a working definition of its title. The city of Inglewood, California, affectionately known as “The Bottoms,” plays a vital role in this coming of age story about high school senior Malcolm (Shameik Moore), along with his geeky friends, Jib (Tony Revolini) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) who have bonded together with their individual quirks to go against the norm. What initially appears to be a group of young men, turns out to be two males and a female who have formed a band as part of their expression of fondness for 90’s Hip Hop Culture.
In the first of many encounters with local bullies, Diggy, who is gay, tries to save the group from torture by exposing her breasts to prove that she is indeed a female, yet it does nothing to save the group from endless torture. With the roster of heavyweights behind this film (Forest Whitaker, Nina Young Bongiovi, Pharrell Williams) coming together due to their shared experiences with the film’s theme, it is no surprise that the screenplay, which was written and directed by Nigerian Rick Famuyiwa, spared few details about stereotypes. Specifically, it chronicles the life of a young black male and the struggles he faces in trying to avoid gangs, get accepted into college and prove to the world that he is capable without totally conforming to societal expectations.
Malcolm’s dream of being accepted into college, is almost curtailed by many of the local leaders who don’t agree with his approach or his belief that he can rise above all the obstacles he faces. In his efforts to prove he is capable, he and his friends, get caught up in a local drug scandal that results in Malcolm unknowingly carrying the load of Ecstasy that will eventually buy his freedom from the naysayers. When Malcolm seeks assistance from Will (Blake Anderson), a questionable social media castaway, he is given all the tools he needs to set up a high yielding drug operation that will cover any trace of his participation. Running a covert operation inside the school he expects to graduate from, Malcolm gains the upper hand by being more proactive than reactive. In the end, Malcolm, Diggy and Jib are all winners in their own right as they discover new paths in the quest to be accepted and welcomed, not because of where they came from, but because of what they have achieved as individuals.
While the film is very intense in its portrayal of life in the streets, it is also very real in pointing out that there are always viable options for those who choose to take the higher road. With real life music artists A$AP Rocky (Dom) and Tyga (De’Andre) playing dual roles in the con game, the storyline is believable as well as entertaining. For the valuable life lessons it teaches, I highly recommend it for a mature audience although excessive use of the N-Word is not as dope as it seems.
In theaters June 19th
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