Directed by: James Nunn
Starring: Scott Adkins, Jack Doolan, Joey Ansah, Kacey Barnfield, and Spencer Wilding
Searching for answers about his brother’s murder, Danny
(Adkins) returns to Green Street and his old Firm (apparently a collection of
soccer hooligans who support a certain team) after some time away. If it’s one thing the GSE, or Green Street
Elite, like to do, it’s brawl. But the brawling went too far, and Danny is mad.
He’s also disappointed that the once-triumphant GSE has decayed and is no
longer on top. So he takes second in command, Gilly (Doolan), and whips him and
the Firm into shape with a comprehensive training regimen. Meanwhile, Danny and
DCI Jones (Ansah) are at odds with how to deal with murder and hooliganism in
the Firm (s). In order to get close to the truth, Danny has to now fight in
brutal, no-holds-barred group Punchfighting free-for-alls with various other UK
Firms. He also finds time for love with beautiful barmistress Molly
(Barnfield). The inevitable final battle eventually takes place with
arch-baddie Mason (Wilding), and there are some twists and turns along the way
to justice…but will Danny get there in one piece? Find out today!
We loved Green Street 3, and we’re happy that the franchise
was re-purposed from an Elijah Wood drama to a Scott Adkins Punchfighter in two
easy steps. Notice they took out the word “Hooligans” from the title. Kind of
like how Rambo III (1988) should be First Blood III, but who’s counting?
Anyway, GS3 is everything this kind of movie should be, and perhaps just a bit
more. It relies on tried and true 80’s traditions to come out with a completely
winning formula. Hey, why mess with perfection? The filmmakers had the wisdom
to realize this when so many others don’t. That’s just one reason why GS3
delivers the goods in spades.
Notably, GS3 would totally work as a drama if all the
fighting was taken out. It has that gray-skies, “kitchen sink”-style drama the
British are so good at - what we call Brit Grit - it just so happens that they
added Punchfighting and brawling to the mix, to excellent effect. Fan favorite
Scott Adkins is in his element and in top form, and the rest of the cast is
top-notch as well. The cinematography is effective and non-junky looking,
thankfully. Awesomely, the score by Paul Arnold and Andrew Barnabas is
synth-drenched and you can’t help but recall the golden 80’s. The movie even
ends on a freeze-frame. As if that wasn’t enough, one Leavon Archer contributes
two Totally 80’s-style songs, “Pushing Back” and “Trouble”, further reinforcing
the coolness.
And there ought to be 80’s-style songs, as there are - get
ready for this - SIX training montages. We haven’t seen this many training
montages since Rocky IV (1985). We love a good training montage, and we give
the movie a lot of credit for having the guts to do this and not caring what
anybody thinks. If the music wasn’t good and we weren't invested in the story
and Scott Adkins wasn’t involved, it might not have worked, but it totally
does. We wanted to get in shape like Gilly and the gang and we were cheering.
Also, they PRACTICE their head-butting technique on the heavy bag. And Gilly
goes into Punchfighting brawls wearing a sweater and a collared shirt. Only in
the UK, we guess.
So wipe away your depression, grab a few pints, and enter
the Punch-brawling (yet another new term?) world of Green Street 3. You’ll be
glad you did.
Comeuppance Review by: Ty and Brett
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