Review of Baby Juice Express

Introduction

Bognor Regis, crime capital! It doesn`t quite have that ring of notoriety. I`ve met one person from Bognor, and she said that the best thing about the town is that you can leave. Let`s face it, Bognor needs a boost to its reputation, a little pizzazz to attract the tourists, something that will put Bognor on the map. The Baby Juice Express is definitely not that elusive something.

The British film industry could also use a kick in its complacency. In recent years it has become enamoured of the gangster movie, especially after Guy Ritchie started Snatching at Smoking Barrels. Even Shane Ritchie (no relation, I hope) has got in on the act with his film, Shoreditch. As Baby Juice Express is another gangster flick, it`s not even that much needed breath of fresh air. So it was with low expectations that I sat down to this disc.

Baby Juice is a rather unsavoury euphemism for sperm. The Express in question is a rather ingenious method of smuggling out said Baby Juice from prison. This is a rather important lifeline for career criminal Krakowski. He has used his ill-gotten gains to invest in some rather lucrative properties. But unless he has an heir, the properties go to the state on his death. So he depends on the Baby Juice Express to deliver the contents of his pants, from his prison cell to his blushing and recently acquired bride, Trixie.

Des is a Graphic Design graduate, who dreams of being a gangster in Bognor Regis. He`s a friend of petty criminal Frank O`Reilly, who constantly boasts of his high connections. When Des does the unthinkable and wins a boxing bout, he finds that he and Frank are in debt to the tune of £800. Frank comes up with a plan to make up their losses, and one homicidal sword wielding Sikh, and a night of flatulent passion with a buxom dark haired temptress later, and they soon owe £20000 to some rather ominous gangster types, and a cross between Joe Bugner and Magnum is threatening Des` front teeth. It`s time for desperate measures, it`s time to hijack the Baby Juice Express and hold Krakowski`s little fellers to ransom.

Video

The picture is a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, and as you would expect from a recent film there`s no evidence of age or damage. The picture is fine really, clear and sharp with just a hint of grain, more evident in darker scenes. Bearing in mind this is a low budget film the picture is perfectly acceptable.

Audio

The sound is a DD 2.0 Stereo English track. The stereo is effective, with a hint of liveliness in the separation. The dialogue is clear at all times and the music is certainly suited to the subject. Unfortunately there are no subtitles.

Features

The extras on this disc make for a nice little package. The trailer is to be expected, but there is also a 20-minute making of documentary, which serves as your usual Press Kit package. You have your behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast and crew, and plenty of film footage to pad it out. Joe Bugner does explain the etymology of the word Palooka, which I found particularly interesting though.

Finally there is an audio commentary with writer, producer, star Nick Moran, writer director, Mike Hurst, and music person John Stewart. It`s an excellent yak track, with a good balance of funny and informative as they try desperately to avoid libel and profanity in their comments. It must be said though that it helps if you have a good tolerance of the word `allegedly`.

Conclusion

Bugner in Bognor, if that isn`t enough of a tagline for this film I don`t know what is. I love it when films like this turn up, every expectation I had, and everything I had seen and read about Baby Juice Express led me to believe I`d be in for a bad time. Yet I found myself utterly entertained. Baby Juice Express, takes the conventions of a gangster movie and turns them on their heads to become a wonderful send-up of most of British Cinema`s recent output. It`s a post-modern British gangster movie. Or considering Guy Ritchie is credited with re-inventing the genre in the first place, that would make BJX a post-post-modern gangster movie. It must be said though, the very subject matter limits in terms of target audience. Not everyone is going to be excited by the idea of a sperm heist, with some rather icky moments from There`s Something About Mary or American Pie springing to mind. It`s a false assumption though, as while there are gross out moments in the film, they are all in line with the story.

Considering that the project went from script to film in such a short time, around three months, it makes this film even more impressive. The script is sharp at times, the dialogue witty, the cast is great, and the attention to detail delightful. There are in-jokes that reward the diligent eye. I loved the Pulp Fiction homage, and there is an fcuk send up that you may miss the first time around, a film that rewards repeat viewing. The humour is a little hit and miss, but evident in such profusion that while you may miss a gag, there`ll be one in a few seconds to make you laugh. One joke in particular had me in stitches.

Baby Juice Express will appeal to a certain mindset. Its comedy isn`t exactly broad, and indeed the story is as ridiculous as the initial premise. The film borders on the surreal at times, which isn`t exactly a bad thing. However the film does come across as patchy, as if it`s a collection of cool bits, rather than a strong cohesive script. But it`s a wonderful antidote to the glut of British gangster movies of late, sending the genre up a treat. It also has Cleo Rocos and her amazing breasts, recommendation enough for any film. Baby Juice Express deserves to see the inside of many a DVD player, well worth a rent.