My Review of The Young Offenders (2016)

 

Written And Directed by Peter Foott

Conor: "There are two things you need for an adventure, a treasure map and someone dumb enough to go with you."

I'll admit that while I haven't discussed this on my blog, I do from time to time watch the popular RTE/BBC series of the same name. This movie, released a decade ago really did lay the groundwork for the ongoing TV show.

It's set in Cork and the offenders in question are local fuck ups Jock Murphy (Chris Walley) and Conor MacSweeney (Alex Murphy). Two young lads who bring out the worst and sometimes the best in one another. They also wreck everyone around them and often on purpose.

One person in particular who was exasperated by them was Conor's long suffering mother, Mairéad (Hilary Rose). Mairéad spent most of the film at her wits end with both Conor and Jock while also having to deal with the toothache from hell. 

At times, Mairéad was almost too harsh on both lads, something which she was even called out on but she's also the best parental figure they have. Mairéad did soften as the film went along and lets just say that she's handy with a pot when the situation called for it.

Both lads have lost a parent each. Conor lost his father and Jock his mother. Jock also had to deal with an abusive father (Michael Sands). That was something that even overzealous Sergeant Healy (Dominic MacHale) could sympathise with. That was when he wasn't spending most of them time trying and failing to stop both Jock and Conor's petty crime spree.

There's inspiration from a real life drug bust that had Jock and Conor looking to get their hands on seven million worth of cocaine. That brought in volatile characters like Billy Murphy (Shane Casey) and the nail gun wielding Ray (PJ Gallagher). Both are brilliantly psychotic baddies but I think Billy was the funnier of the two. He was the one that had the better focus on.

- In the series, PJ Gallagher would go on to play Jock and Conor's school principal. Mairéad works at the fish mongers.

- Jock and Conor used Billy Murphy masks to commit their crimes, which got Billy sent to prison.

- Standout music: Sultans of Ping F.C.'s Where's Me Jumper?

- Chronology: A large part of the plot was based on a massive cocaine seizure that happened in 2007.

The Young Offenders (2016) was an absolute riot. A genuinely funny debut/prelude to the popular series. So many funny lines, some genuinely outlandish scenes (especially with that nail gun) and a few nice emotional ones too. 

Rating: 8 out of 10