Release date: May 7.
The cast: Riz Ahmed, Kayvan Novak, Nigel Lindsay.
The pitch: A group of British Islamic jihadists bicker over how to pull off a massive terrorist attack. Oh, and it’s a comedy.
The strapline: None yet.
The buzz: Fans of Chris Morris have been waiting years for Four Lions. The Brass Eye creator spent months researching Islamic jihadists and homegrown terrorist cells before even writing a word of the script, and noted how often terrorist operations turn into farce. The resulting product got a mixed response when it premiered at Sundance, with some critics blanching at its blackest of black humour. But Morris’ fanbase in the UK – plus the inevitable tabloid uproar that will accompany its release – should make this the Brit comedy of the year.
Reasons this could be good: This trailer is packed with good gags and plenty of physical comedy. For anyone worried it would stray close to the surreal, almost unwatchable comedy of Morris’ Channel 4 series Jam, it appears to take a much broader tone – though this may just be clever marketing to pull in a wider audience than might otherwise be attracted to a suicide bomber comedy. Also, kudos to Morris for going for a cast of relative unknowns rather than the former The Office actors who might usually be relied upon to sell this type of thing to punters.
Reasons this could be bad: It’s one thing making fun of terrorism, but this trailer’s tone come dangerously close to making the film seem like a knockabout Britcom rather than a satire. There has to be some sort of tragedy inherent in young, misguided Islamists wanting to become mass murderers doesn’t there? But this promo doesn’t hint at it, and – call us conservative if you like – that makes us kind of squeamish. Also, there appears to be rather a major spoiler at 01:48.
We think: Right from the beginning of the trailer, the brass balls of this premise are apparent. Only Morris could make a gag out of the 7/7 bombers’ harrowing suicide note video. We think Warp has played up the film’s laughs in this trailer and downplayed the more serious points Morris wants to make. That’s fair enough though – In the Loop did the same thing. That film provides a useful reference point (especially as it shares, in Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, two of the same writers as this film), as it proved British audiences were ready for a comedy that took on serious themes rather than yet more of the sub-Carry On shite that plasters Mackenzie Crook’s face on the side of buses a couple of weekends a year. If this film is half as daring and accomplished as In the Loop, then we’re in for a treat.
Music: The blast of Toploader at the trailer’s conclusion had this previewer in stitches. It sounds like a perfect soundtrack to a spot of terrorism.
Did you spot?: The terrorists’ outfits included Honey Monster and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle get-ups.
Odds of you seeing it: If you have any interest at all in smart, thought-provoking comedy – and a pretty unshockable constitution – this could be your film of the year.
