Dope Movie Review

Dope (2015)

Rent Dope on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Rick Famuyiwa
Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa
Starring: Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons 
Rated: R
Watch the trailer

Plot
High school senior Malcolm, a self professed '90s geek living in a rough neighborhood, navigates drug dealers, girls, and college interviews with his best friends.

Verdict
The 90's influence on this movie creates a strange tone in contrast with the violence. It started as an outcast living a tough life and pivoted to a madcap romp reminiscent of '80s teen movies.The clever story stays one step ahead, but it's not what I expected based on the introduction. The characters and tone set this apart. While the story is well done, the concept of a teen adventure movie isn't unique.
It depends.

Review
This feels like a 90s period piece since the main characters are obsessed with that time period, though it's set in current day. For Malcolm, getting beaten up isn't a bad day, it's when people are shot by stray gunfire in his neighborhood. You could be killed while buying a burger. He writes a college essay about Ice Cube's Today was a Good Day, but is rebuked by his teacher who wants him to write a cliche essay about how he lives in a crime filled area, is  raised by a single mother, and just wants to better himself.

These kids are made fun of for liking the white culture of the 90s. Malcom gets his shoes stolen in school. but if it's happened before, why would he wear fancy shoes again? The 90s obsession makes this movie stand out, but it's also makes it weird. This strange tone and style is at odds with the violence and danger of the neighborhood.

Dope - A typical teen movie modernized by making it retro.

Malcolm chases after a girl, and this is where the movie changes from a lighter Boyz N the Hood take to a John Hugh's wild teen romp. The story twists and intersects with itself, and Malcolm develops a relatively safe and modern way to sell the drugs that accidentally came into his possession. Based on the first quarter of the movie, I didn't see it going this way. The story devolves into a crazy youtube parody. The commentary on a young man that doesn't conform to those around him is dropped altogether.

The movie wraps up exploring perception versus reality. Fake designer bags look real if you carry it like it's real. Malcolm pens a college essay about the opposing forces in his life and concludes alluding to system racism. Ending with that monologue would have been strong, but the movie continues for a while longer.