‘Next time, it won’t be your car…’
After the nadir that was Rise of the Footsoldier: Marbella, the franchise needed to do something new or it’d die. While Origins is very much more of the same in terms of plot and aesthetic, the addition of Vinnie Jones and Keith Allen does at least add some gravitas and vigour to the proceedings…
For anyone keeping up with the timeline, Origins is the second sequel in the franchise (after The Pat Tate Story) and the first film to be directed by Nick Nevern. While Tate (Craig Fairbrass) does appear in the second half of the film (he makes quite the entrance), Nevern’s film focuses more on the increasingly ridiculous figure of Tony Tucker (Terry Stone) and his insane sidekick Craig (Roland Manookian). We see his rise from ex-squaddie to drug addled lunatic in typically violent and propulsive fashion. And also, of course, loads of absolutely terrible wigs.
Origins is a curious film as it simultaneously contains some of the best and worst acting of the franchise. There are some truly honking line deliveries here (no pun intended) and while Jones is a good addition, bringing an authentic silent menace to the role of crazed doorman Bernard O’Mahoney, there are parts of this fifth entry that are barely watchable. It’s also not as funny as previous outings and there is a faint whiff of the franchise running out of steam and ideas, but when it’s good, it’s genuinely good.
I only ever watch these preposterous films when I’m hungover, and they are always a good time. One more left. I’ll be sad when they’re over.
