The weekend has landed!
Rating: 4/10
Running Time: 96 minutes
UK Certificate: 18
On DVD
The really scary thing about Human Traffic is that its probably the best of its type. That type, in case youre wondering, is the small pocket of films that hinge around the philosophy that taking drugs is big and clever, but inevitably labour their point because theyre too tied up in making it to offer the viewer anything else. Like a decent plot. Or a well-written script. Or, heaven forbid, a bit of entertainment.
Human Traffic is the best of that bad bunch predominantly because it has a reasonably strong cast, characters that are tolerable (Id stop short of calling them outright likable), and is generally loved by that select group of people who buy into this sort of guff.
Its set in Cardiff, where a group of pill-popping pals take us through their weekend of highs and lows literally. Main protagonist is Jip (John Simm) who, in between driving under the influence, telling all and sundry about his problems downstairs, and letting us hear his unconvincing Del Boy impressions, is hell-bent on having the weekend of his life. Inevitably, that means more than a quiet pint down his local but dont expect it to mean anything actually happening, because it doesnt.
First-time director Justin Kerrigan overloads his film with stylistics, more than likely because he seems to have little else in his armoury to fill an entire 90 minutes. It makes for tiresome viewing, particularly as the message being put across is both questionable and preachy. Sure, nothing bad happens to any of the characters despite their drug use. After all, that would fly in the face of the films intentions. Glorifying these peoples way of life would be a much tougher job if the main character was to wind up slurping NHS sludge through a straw after being found comatose in a nightclub toilet.
It's Got: Too much hugging. Okay - theyre close friends. We get it.
It Needs: To reconsider its message.
DVD Extras Cast and crew interviews, a couple of TV spots, filmographies, a music video and a theatrical trailer. DVD Extras Rating: 6/10
Summary
Unless youre a member of the taking-drugs-is-big-and-clever mob, give this one a wide berth.