Fairly dumb & inaccurate, though entertaining drama

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2007)

It is interesting to note that the criticisms for "Hooligans" is pretty much split evenly down the middle, with most American audiences praising this over-dramatized world of football hooligans, while the Brits can see this as the clichéd, sappy melodrama that it really is. As an ex US citizen, (I now reside in Germany) I was a bit saddened at how clueless many Americans really are as to what things are really like across the Atlantic. The Brits must have had quite a laugh at this unlikely tale concerning a Harvard University "yank" named Matt, (played by Elijah Wood of all people) who gets kicked out of school and flies straight away to London, where he joins his boring sister and her boyfriend. It doesn't take him long to meet Pete, played effectively by the quite handsome Charlie Hunnam, (but sporting the fakest, most cringe-inducing Cockney accent I have ever heard), who introduces the small-in-stature Matt to the rough world of Hooligans. I am in no way a sexist, however this violent sub-culture is undeniably a "guy thing", and it is obvious at times that this drama was directed by a woman. Though technically well-made, it is sometimes sappy, overly dramatic, and sickly sentimental, as is so typical for American films. Using dramatic music the film attempts to manipulate our emotions, especially the unbelievably corny song that plays over the final battle. A lot of the power that this film might have had was deflated by some unwise choice of music. This same approach helped to destroy another film dealing with similar subject matter, that film being "American History X", another over-rated film. "Hooligans" comes across as insincere and contrived. The actors were mostly fine, however Charlie's accent; if I, as a non- English person found Hunnam's Cockney to be awful, imagine what it sounds like to a London-born native. I understand why Hunnam was cast; he has screen presence, and a certain charm, but he obviously is no Brit. Are they afraid to cast an authentic English actor in a major film? Not to mention, Hunnam's character was way too young to be believable as the leader of a 'firm.' It is supposed to be realistic, especially with a film dealing with a subject like this. A film about hooligans is supposed to be hard, and this film is too sentimental to be 'hard.' Female director Lexi Alexander seems to have a certain respect for the scene, but she seems to romanticize it somewhat, and seems a bit out of her element here. It seems that Alexander has a fascination with this hard, violent and male dominated world, but she doesn't really have a true understanding as to what it is all about. I would advise all with an interest in the world of Hooligans and football violence to check out a film called "Football Factory". It seems to be quite a bit closer to the real deal. I admit though, that "Hooligans" has it's moments. The close friendship that develops between Pete and Matt is nicely handled, and actually touching without being too corny. Their relationship is the best thing about the movie, although I thought it was lame when, at the films climactic rumble, when Pete gets his face beat in, that Matt didn't drop everything and run to his 'best mate'. That made me a little sick. Especially how it was presented in the end, that Pete had to lose his life, but it was worth it for the American guy to learn some stupid 'life lesson.'As a drama, "Hooligans" is not bad, but as an expose into the world of hooligans and football violence, this doesn't make it. Filmmakers need to stop making films about subjects that they don't fully understand.