It's always a big deal when it comes to making plans for new year's eve. Especially when you're young, and especially when it feels like it's the one night when everyone who's anyone ends up at what is destined to be THE hottest parties. It was an even bigger deal as 1999 got ready to turn into the year 2000, and this is where we meet the main characters in Pirates.
Two Tonne (Jordan Peters), Kidda (Reda Elazouar) and Cappo (Elliot Edusah) are three best friends. They're also trying to make an impact as pirate radio DJs in their local area. Some changes might be happening soon though, despite some of the trio not feeling ready to move in any other direction. Thankfully, everything can be put on hold as they attempt to get into a big club night party, where Two Tonne hopes to see the new year in with the lovely Sophie (Kassius Nelson). Things keep conspiring against them though.
The debut feature from writer-director Reggie Yates, a British TV personality and actor who has clearly been taking notes throughout his career, Pirates manages to be enjoyably familiar and comforting while also making use of the viewpoint and lives of the leads to avoid feeling stale and redundant.
It helps that Peters, Elazouar, and Edusah are all fantastic in their roles, each one different from the other, but those differences complementing one another in a way that makes their strong friendship feel very easy to believe. Peters is the focal point for most of the narrative, but Edusah has a satisfying character arc, and Elazouar provides many of the best comedy moments. Nelson may be there as the woman motivating Peters, but she does well in the couple of main scenes that she has, Youssef Kerkour is good fun as the wheeling and dealing Uncle Ibbs, and both Rebekah Murrell and Shiloh Coke do well as very formidable young women who refuse to instantly give in and let these young men just get to do whatever they want for the sake of entry to a big party.
Considering his background and experience, it's no surprise that Pirates is soundtracked by a fantastic selection of tunes, many of them matching the energy and taste of our young leads. What is surprising is how well Yates does in balancing humour and heart in a feature that could have very easily been unbalanced by someone with less confidence trying to push harder in any one direction, tonally. It's also good to see someone trying to authentically depict a time period from the past few decades without overloading every scene with references in the visuals and dialogue that smack the viewer in the face while demanding they appreciate every bit of nostalgia being served up to them.
I remember this being quite well-reviewed when it was released, but it seems to have been quickly forgotten in the past few years. It would be a shame if it stayed forgotten. More people should check it out, and then we can all keep doing our bit to ensure it isn't forgotten again.
8/10
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