Get Duked! (Review)
Get Duked! Is a new Amazon Prime Video original that may be the best genre film of the year this year, for those who don't know I thoroughly enjoyed Anna and The Apocalypse last year when it was released in US cinemas. Get Duked! Is basically a hip-hop version of Anna and The Apocalypse... However, if musicals aren't your thing, you'd be happy to know that Get Duked! Isn't driven on being a strict musical even though it does have musical hip-hop numbers on it and no its as cringe-worthy as it sounds. The trailers really don't do Get Duked! Enough justice, I am super glad I went in as blind as I possibly could to it. All I knew going in that Eddie Izzard was involved with it.
The premise is pretty much like a Jumanji-Esque movie that's far raunchier and it works like a charm. The main squad in Get Duked! Has fantastic chemistry that can automatically get you caring about the characters. Sometimes movies like Get Duked! Can be rather stale or flat if you don't have the right chemistry involed around the center characters that thus movie is based around. Viraj Juneja should be breaking out to the mainstream soon as his legendary in the making performance as DJ Beatroot as he lights up the screen and a star is born. Think Vince Vaughn in Swingers. Unexpectedly, the amount of charisma that Viraj has in this is unreal.
Lewis Gribben also was a shinning member of the young cast that was all admirable in their own rights. Lewis and Viraj really stood out to me as star-making performances in the film. As the film goes on it does take an unexpected turn as the first act is really hilarious and then we see why it is being promoted as a genre film as it does get dark and one of the more memorable scenes in getting Duked! Is when Viraj Juneja has his musical number as DJ Beatroot and tells us what's really been going on.
The direction of Ninian Doff is bloody brilliant as well, the way he handles the visuals is simply stunning and will blow you away by the time the hallucinogenic trips sets in, which screams to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Get Duked! Is a really fun experience for fans of comedy and genre films. It was a film I wasn't anticipating much from and just put a complete smile on my face the whole time and it never faded away. When you're searching for a film thats streaming for the Halloween season, Get Duked! Is the perfect hidden gem you'll be happy to come across.
Overall Grade: 3.5/5 Stars