Movies

Danny Dyer’s new comedy Marching Powder channels ’00s nostalgia – but does it deliver?

BBG News

The film “Marching Powder” represents Danny Dyer’s comeback to the silver screen after a decade, making it particularly appropriate that this resurgence on the big screen was also accompanied by a reunion with director Nick Love, hailing from the UK.

The latest comedy marks their fifth project together, and in numerous aspects, it can be considered as a spiritual successor to the 2004 film “The Football Factory.” In this earlier production, Dyer portrayed a character belonging to a violent Chelsea supporter group (which was not his preferred role), and it was part of several British films from the 2000s that revolved around football hooliganism.

Marching Powder” harks back to a period in British cinema characterized by intense bursts of violence, frequent use of strong language including the C-word, and phrases that may now seem outdated. However, it’s worth noting that this film offers more than just a nostalgic trip; it subtly reflects the passage of time since films like “The Football Factory“, suggesting a maturation in storytelling and thematic depth.

At first sight, Jack Jones (Dyer) appears like an ordinary troublemaker, but the movie “Marching Powder” doesn’t shy away from scrutinizing him closely. Through a narrative that often addresses the audience directly, Jack admits to feeling dissatisfied with his life, and we also learn about his struggles such as hair loss and erectile dysfunction.

In a chaotic day of street violence during a soccer match, Jack gets arrested and has six weeks to change his ways or face imprisonment. Instead of following Jack as he causes riots across the country, the film centers around Jack’s struggle to reform himself, stay out of prison, and preserve his marriage with Dani (Stephanie Leonidas).

The film “Marching Powder” offers a distinctive, occasionally coarse take on the romantic comedy genre. In this story, Dani expresses her love for Jack while not hesitating to label him as a “jerk” frequently. It seems they’ve been together long enough that Jack may find it difficult to alter his habits fundamentally. This unconventional approach lends the movie its most hilarious dialogue lines.

Danny Dyer and Stephanie Leonidas deliver outstanding performances, displaying a convincing, lived-in chemistry that adds depth to the film and makes it more emotionally impactful than anticipated. The story reaches a comedic peak when it cleverly reimagines the iconic cue card scene from “Love Actually,” and at its best, the movie shines brightest during scenes focused on their interactions or Jack’s struggle with sobriety.

The issue lies in the fact that the movie “Marching Powder” can be divided into two distinct parts. Alongside this, Jack encounters various challenges such as Kenny, Dani’s half-brother who has recently left a health facility, a circle of friends who persistently tempt him with alcohol and drugs, and hostile football cliques seeking retribution.

In this film, the storyline seeks to reimagine the hooligan theme by portraying Jack as someone who feels like a blemish on society and considers himself obsolete in a contemporary world that’s progressed and embraced diversity without him. However, Nick Love’s script sometimes struggles to balance criticizing Jack for his outdated views while still finding humor in them at times.

The scenes depicting football hooliganism and rival gangs might as well be bonus material from the movie “The Football Factory.” It’s never romanticized, but it seems dated, creating an uncomfortable mix with the parts of the story that powerfully portray Jack’s struggle to break free from his old habits.

Instead of constantly presenting scenes featuring a melancholic, bare-chested Jack, munching on Wotsits from a bowl while contemplating the hardships of everyday life, or offering yet another predictable, characterless fight scene, Marching Powder unfortunately attempts to combine these disparate elements, resulting in an uneven blend.

As a devoted admirer of Nick Love and Danny Dyer, I can hardly contain my excitement about their reunion in an upcoming film. Just like our leading man, it feels like it’s been an entire decade since we’ve witnessed a new project from Director Love, and it’s evident that this is more than just work for him – it’s a deeply personal endeavor that exudes maturity while aiming to rekindle the raw energy of his ’00s masterpieces.

Although “Marching Powder” may not perfectly combine nostalgic elements with contemporary topics, it nonetheless offers much delight in this eagerly anticipated comeback of Dyer to the silver screen.

Marching Powder is released in UK and Irish cinemas on March 7.

Read More

2025-03-06 12:44

Previous post Dragonkin: The Banished: How To Unlock Symbiosis
Next post Under Par Golf Architect is set to bring golf management to life, tees up a multiple platform launch