Four Lions Review

Four Lions

From the crazed, yet genius mind that is Chris Morris, Four Lions takes on the world with unedifying bravery in depicting the often ignorant and naïve perspective of aspiring suicide bombers. Set in the North of England, a group of young and misguided Muslims set forth what they believe is a radical and non-conformist set of beliefs regarding the afterlife, and how they feel Muslims as a whole are mis-treated by the global media.

One criticism to no doubt be aimed at the piece is that it perhaps makes light of what is a grave and appalling way of life for many in the Middle East, and indeed pain and suffering witnessed and experienced by thousands of victims’ families. By contrast, Four Lions sets out a very clear message from the beginning. In laying out the stereotypical characters from your atypical comedy film; the family man, the idiot, the troubled leader, and the misguided extremist, the film addresses the prerequisites for such a film to then deliver the comedy goods. Where Four Lions excels is in its ability to push home the grave truths and morbid understanding (or lack thereof) of how Muslim extremists believe that joining a Jihad and declaring their own war on their own citizens and indeed those in other territories will in some way reward them for giving their lives for a worthy cause.

Morris has, in a sense, set out to mock the core extremist sects for their farcical notion of laying down their lives for a cause which not only destroys lives, communities and peoples’ perspective of these very religions, they also contribute absolutely nothing to the world. There are few laughs in the film itself, and they are achieved through slapstick humour, glib and moronic remarks from the film’s jester, though little does he know of his own ignorance and gross stupidity.

Four Lions is a comprehensive fable complemented perfectly by a comedic punch which softens the blow of the subject matter in such a way that the audience feels at least subconsciously comfortable with finding humour in such a horrific and in your face subject matter. However, Chris Morris deserves recognition and praise for addressing an area often reported about on the news but never directly confronted, a matter which will likely never cease but should at least be exhibited as the flawed and ultimately tragic topic of concern on the lips of this very generation.

8/10