Four Lions

Released By: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Released On: 03/08/2011
Director: Christopher Morris
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, William Adamsdale, Riz Ahmed, Adeel Akhtar

The Film:

In the wrong hands, a comedy about suicide bombers has the potential to be about as endearing as a romantic comedy sponsored by NAMBLA. Fortunately, Christopher Morris' film Four Lions is about as witty as they come, while still maintaining a sombre and serious vibe.

The comedic tone of the film is established fairly quickly, opening with four mujahideen attempting to film a terrorist video. To the chagrin of the dedicated Omar, Brother Waj can't seem to get anything right, and his use of a small AK-47 toy doesn't help to make him any more menacing. Behind the camera, Barry, the very white convert to Islam, shouts orders and criticism, while Brother Faisal looks on quietly. The idea of a terrorist cell in England is frightening in theory, but as the group outlines their plans to get to Mecca, it becomes very apparent that they are anything but informed religious activists.

In an effort to help move the group along to the status of a threatening terrorist organization, Waj and Omar answer the call to go to Pakistan to join a paramilitary training camp. They quickly get off on the wrong foot when they are late for morning prayers, during which Waj argues with the local captain over which direction East is. A mishap with a rocket launcher sends them scurrying back to England, where they meet Hassan; suicide bomber wannabe with a habit of laying down dope rhymes in the name of Allah. The group is now realized as a prime example of too many cooks, all with different ideas of how they should further their cause.

Comedy is a big part of Four Lions, and it's the actions of the group and they're interactions with each other that make this film so damn funny. Hopelessly at odds with each other on the most efficient way to reach paradise, discussions on blowing up mosques to “radicalize the moderates”, choking down SIM cards to avoid tracking by the FBI, and attempting to wire up crows as carrier pigeons with explosives are just a few of the high points of the film. Despite the comedic elements, however, a mild political message also carries throughout the film as the police target peaceful Muslims, and Omar's pacifist brother attempts to discuss the more moderate aspects of their religion in an effort to prevent bloodshed.

There really aren't any downsides to the film. The actors are all solid, the pacing is tight, and the direction is more than competent. All in all, Four Lions is a perfect mix of satire and serious with outstanding performances throughout. With this being Christopher Morris' first feature film, we can hopefully expect good things from him in the future.

Video/Audio/Extras:

This blu-ray from Magnolia Home Entertainment comes with a 1.85:1 transfer and a 5.1 DTS-HD soundtrack. The picture looks fantastic and the soundtrack is more than adequate. You won't get a lot of surround action going on in this one, but when it does happen, it's not intrusive or out of place.

A good number of extra features are also included. First up is the Bradford Interview, a 4-minute featurette that has the cast and crew discussing the filming of Four Lions, with footage from the set.

Behind The Scenes is split up into 5 parts, and predominantly contains the early stages of some of the funnier parts of the film. All 5 parts run just over 12 minutes but are definitely worth watching, particularly the “Smooth Running Rehearsal”.

Background Material is split into two sections, and contains some of the more interesting extras. First up, Lost Boys is a short film that follows young Pakistanis in England as they describe their experiences with racism and in particular the BNP. The second part is an interview with Mo Ali, a white convert to Islam, who was awaiting trial on terrorism charges. Well worth checking out, it's somewhat surreal to see this young man discuss his commitment to his religion and his trouble with the police.

There are also 7 Deleted Scenes running almost 20 minutes, and Storyboards.

The Final Word:

What can you say about a film that deals with religious extremists in a comedic manner? While it's probably not for everyone, Four Lions is one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time, and Magnolia has done another great job with this blu-ray release.