CHERRY BOMB
Ireland, 2009, 86 minutes, Colour.
Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan, Kimberley Nixon, James Nesbitt.
Directed by Lisa Barros d'Sa and Glenn Leyburn.
Another film about disaffected young people, resenting their parents and acting out in the usual rebellious ways, sex, drugs, drinking, brawling, graffiti... but this time in Northern Ireland. So, if that sounds interesting, here it is. But, if it doesn't, then then give it a miss. They are a wearying group of teenagers, self-indulgent until they strike disaster and their regrets are too late.
One of the advertising catch-lines is that we will see the wild side of Rupert Grint, Harry Potter series Ron Weasley. Actually, he is far more wild and agreeably interesting as Ron. He is rather sombre here, a bit stolid and unbelievable as a tearaway in his attempts to behave as the script asks him to.
1. A film from Northern Ireland? Typically British scenario? Disaffected young people? Parents? Rebellious behaviour?
2. The Belfast setting, the city, the leisure centre, the riverside, the streets, the homes? Ordinary? The musical score?
3. The range of songs, the title? Popular songs for young people?
4. The focus on the three friends? Malachi, his age, background? Family and their concern? The contrast with Luke, his alcoholic father, his drug-dealing brother? Michelle and her being the daughter of the leisure centre proprietor? Their coming together for the weekend?
5. The owner of the leisure centre, his ignoring Michelle, separated from his wife? The wife in London? Michelle coming to her father? His management of the leisure club? His relationship with Donna? Luke revealing the truth? Michelle and her being upset with her father? Only when he died did she appreciate and feel for him?
6. The summer holidays, nothing to do, Malachi and his working at the centre? Luke and his being idle? Michelle wanting something to happen? The goading of each other, the more daring escapades of the weekend, their effect?
7. Malachi, his age and experience, quiet, with his family at home, his friendship with Luke? Going out, the shops, the cars, shoplifting? Leaving the Sunday dinner? Taking the taxi, the speeding, the crash, the consequences? His concern? The relationship with Michelle, the sexual relationship, interrupted? In her father’s room? The father and his angry reaction? Malachi and his discussions with Luke, Luke wanting to know the details? In character for Malachi or not?
8. Luke, his age, his alcoholic father and his resentment, the father with the gas on, turning it off, yet Luke pleading with him to stay because he was his father? Discussions with his brother, the drug deals? Luke and his chances in life? The angry personality? With Malachi, resentful of Malachi with Michelle? Accepting the relationship? The discussions, the mischief, the crashed car? The aftermath?
9. Michelle, provocative, liking Malachi and Luke, taking Malachi to her home, the father’s room, the sex?
10. The decision to have the party, going to the leisure centre, inviting everyone, the drugs and Luke’s wanting to get rid of them? The graffiti, the behaviour, the drinking? The father coming to the leisure centre, seeing the graffiti, finding the three asleep at the pool?
11. His angry reaction, the reaction of the young people, his bashing of Malachi, Malachi’s injuries? Luke and his anger, bashing the owner, killing him? The police coming? Michelle sad for her father?
12. The film opening with the interrogation of Malachi and Luke by the police, the threats to their life and their future? The reprise of this at the end – and leaving it as a question for the two young men? For the audience?
13. A typical story of youth, rebellion, consequences?
