Convaluted. A trite opening, which slips in an OK story later.

Rating: 3/10 (10 February 2006)

Elijah Wood must have needed the cash. I must admit, when I first heard he was making a film like this, I thought it was bad casting. I thought that on actually seeing the film, but I don't think it was a self-fulling prophecy. He just doesn't look right, feel right or seem right in the role.
The first thirty minutes move Wood's character into hooliganism too quickly and unrealistically. He's mentored by a thug who forces the cockney accent so much that it's a parody and at times he (the thug) falls into what can only be described as some sort of West country accent. It is quite unrealistic why Wood's character becomes so fiercely friendly with the thug.
Wood's first visit to a game, shows nothing in his apparent instant interest. Compare this to 'Fever Pitch' where the young boy enters the stadium for the first time and sees the crowd, hears the roar and sees the expanse of green pitch. Then we see his expression. It's obvious the boy has been turned to the sport. In Hooligans (Green Street in UK), there is a similar scene which is wasted for such an opportunity.
To be fair, the next part introduces some conflict in characters and a twist (of sorts), to make the film vaguely watchable.