Chris Morris' distinct style of comedy is on full display in Four Lions. The humor is topical, controversial, and dark. The dialog is loaded with his weird brand of slang, curse words, and made-up phrases. Since the days of Brass Eye and Jam, Morris has added a new weapon to his arsenal: slapstick. Yes, Four Lions is a slapstick black comedy about four bumbling jihadis trying to blow up people. Too soon? Perhaps, but Chris Morris pulls it off.
Omar (Riz Ahmed) is a family man with a loving wife and son and a steady job as a security guard. He is also part of terrorist sleeper cell with two guys named Waj (Kayvan Novak) and Fessal (Adeel Akhtar). One day, Omar gets a coded email that indicates its time for the group to head to Pakistan for training. Omar and Waj go off to Pakistan while Fessal stays behind in London. Fessal, who has a bit of an independent streak, recruits a rapping revolutionary named Hassan (Arsher Ali) into the cell. Waj and Omar bungle the operation in Pakistan, and once they return to London, the cell is forced to reassess their plans for jihad.
Four Lions is shot in a very familiar quasi-documentary verite style that places an emphasizes acting and comic timing. Much of the film's physical humor is derived from the ineptness of the lead characters, whose commitment to jihad is only equaled by their incompetence. Morris has always had an ear for comedic dialog. Here, his rapid fire verbal tussle is sharp, but its impact is occasionally muted by the thick accents.
The combination of broad physical gags, touchy subject matter, and intimate shooting style short-circuits the audience's expectations. For instance, the scene in which Hassan is introduced is built around a serious situation that is defused (literally) by a gag. The film consistently toys with this kind of tension and release to trigger multiple, potentially contradictory emotions. It dares the the viewer to second-guess their responses what they are seeing.
Whether one thinks this all to be funny is entirely subjective. Regardless of what you think, Four Lions is the rare comedy that challenges the audience and pushes the boundaries of accepted notions of humor.
More from Four Lions
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"Here, his rapid fire verbal tussle is sharp, but its impact is occasionally muted by the thick accents"
I think I speak for everyone when I say 'huh?!'
Is this a typical American response to British cinema? Because I can't imagine a British reviewer making that kind of comment about an American film, no matter what the accent.
Trainspotting all over again....(shrugs).
maybe they can add English subtitles for English countries too.I'm British and had difficulty understanding everything said to me when i lived in Yorkshire (I'm not from Yorkshire) . it happens everywhere in all countries .
i think the media will find some funny ways to show their outrage at this film and I'm expecting the usual religious fall out from people who haven't seen it.
I'm expecting this to be great and will be in the cinema on release day.
Can't wait for it. Love everything Chris Morris does.
I understand the accent comment, Yorkshire twangs can be difficult to decipher on occasion. And I am pretty sure you are referring to Twin Town, not Tiny Town...........