Photo Credits: IMDb

With a title like Dope, you may think that this movie is about selling drugs and the consequences. However, it is way more than that. This movie stands out. Because of the impressive cast, I felt like I was part of the movie. Dope had the ability to pull the audience in with its thrilling adventures. Malcolm (played by Shameik Moore) and his friends live in Inglewood and are nerds who love the 90’s, hip-hop, and skateboarding, in addition to having their own punk band.

Through Malcolm’s wardrobe, I actually thought the movie was set in the 90s at the beginning of the movie. In a place full of drug dealers and gang members, being a ‘nerd’ who wants to have a good job and education was not considered cool. Malcolm gets beat up by bullies but his friends are always there for him. They get involved in a drug dealing case and the movie takes a turn. It was full of suspense, humor, and at the same time, darkness. This movie gave me an idea of how dangerous living in that part of Inglewood is, and exposed me to the lifestyle of drug dealers and the things that happen to teenagers there.

The high schoolers there don’t see a bright future ahead of them, and do not get enough support from teachers because they come from a dangerous neighborhood with a bad reputation. This was the main focus of the movie, and it influenced the theme of Dope. Some people might label the speech Malcolm gave at the end of the movie as “cliche,” but I think it made sense in the context of the movie and strengthened the theme. Moreover, the cinematography was great and the soundtrack was amazing. It set the mood and had a mellow tone to it. Young audience members will recognize quite a few familiar faces like A$ap Rocky, Zoe Kravitz, Chanel Iman, Quincy Brown, and Tyga, andtheir acting was actually pretty good. Things like this made the movie stand out and entertain its viewers.

Even though it was expected that the guest stars would help the movie get more views, this movie did not get enough praise. Dope checks off most of the requirements to be a hit movie,and I feel disappointed  that this movie did not get the audiences or views that it deserved. The movie also has the message that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what your status is. If you work hard and are motivated to do something, you can achieve that.