Semolina Pilchard

A crime comedy feature directed by Mike Clarke, written by Clarke and Daina Ann Smith and starring Sarah-Louise Chadwick, Sophia Leanne Kelly, Alina Allison, Macaulay Cooper and Joe McGann.

Tension is rising in the Liverpool underworld. Having spend years living a confidential life, Clara (Chadwick) is summoned back to Liverpool by her gangster father, Gerry (McGann), for unclear reasons. Clara is not happy about this as she wants nothing to do with crime and her sister, Danika (Kelly) is not content either, as she believes that her dad intends to leave all his fortune to her estranged sibling. So what is Danika's solution? She hires an assassin named Rosie (Allison) to kill Clara, leading to a series of shenanigans.

A plot to kill someone. A woman reconnecting with people from her past. Intimidating men. A bizarre hitwoman. Armed robbers. Threats. Murders. Beatings. All these and more are what takes place in this story. The best comedic moments come in the form of a group of criminals who commit armed robberies while wearing animal masks, who get themselves in awkward situations while doing crimes, whether that involves robbing a post office or breaking into a house. There is also plenty of serious drama, particularly when Clara visits Des (Jack Ryder), an old acquaintance.

The swipe technique is often utilised and the cool soundtrack adds to the viewing experience.

The screenplay moves from one character to the other and character exploration is done effectively. Clara is a woman who refuses to be part of her father's criminal empire and she unwillingly becomes a target for murder. Collaborating again with Clarke after Make Believe, Kelly makes good impression as a no-nonsense daughter of a notorious criminal, who helps run his business with determination and turns out to be rather ruthless. Rosie is perhaps the one who stands out the most: a professional contract killer with a playful attitude and singing aspirations. Cooper plays the leader of a gang of naive armed robbers and this would be an opportunity to acknowledge Tim Lucas's role as Al, who stands out as the most childish of the bunch. Although he appears late in the film, Louis Emerick makes a significant impression as a dangerous crime boss, appearing more ruthless than Gerry, who (although a dangerous man himself) reveals his sensitive side. And one must not forget Davey (Joe Egan), one of Gerry's henchmen, a big guy with a childish personality.

Much of this story is about living a life of crime. Furthermore, it is also a family drama and a feature about morality, having ambitions, reminiscing the past and leaving the past behind and starting over.

The lengthy duration is no disadvantage as the intriguing plot, the humour and the interesting characters are enough to create two enjoyable hours. Nevertheless, once they view the film, viewers will comprehend why it was given this title, however, it is a title that does not really indicate what this feature is about, what the narrative involves. Hopefully, this will not prevent people from deciding to view this film as it is well worth it.