Four Lions

When trying to think of areas that might provide a breeding ground for religious extremism and terrorist plots, Sheffield is not likely to be the first place that comes to mind. Nevertheless, it is the setting for Christopher Morris’s terrorism comedy, Four Lions. The film follows the lives of five men who are close friends, all leading a relatively average, Western existence, who talk of theme parks and fast food shops. They are also avid Jihadi terrorists and, fortunately for the citizens of Sheffield, ridiculously inept.

The film emerges as Morris’s first full length feature film, and anyone familiar with his television work (The Day Today and Brass Eye) will understand that he is a satirist who confronts issues with an unflinching directness, regardless of how controversial or taboo they may be. For that reason, some may find the humorous treatment of terrorism somewhat uncomfortable. However, Four Lions shows a surprisingly delicate touch in its approach, paralleling a dark subject matter with level headed, human understanding and a healthy dose of hilarity, resulting in something incredibly palatable. While it is clear that Morris has set out to condemn such radical religious extremism, he has succeeded in crafting characters who we can like and enjoy watching while remaining unsympathetic to their cause and motives. Equally, it isn’t just the extremists who are ridiculed: the ineptitude of the police and media scaremongering are also the subjects of criticism. While the dedication to such misguided ideals does create some moments of sadness and pity, it is the comedy that unquestionably makes the story shine, with hilarious dialogue that will doubtlessly be parroted as you leave the screen. While Four Lions may spark deep political discussion, it will only be after several hours of laughter.

Daniel Hayden