Convenience (2015)

Ajay and Shaan, as they attempt to rob a petrol station to clear a debt owed to some Russian gangsters from a strip club.However, things don't go to plan when they discover that the petrol station's safe is on a time lock and won't open until 6am.Desperate, the pair decide to tie up supervisor Levi, disguise themselves as workers and wait it out…without ever trying to reference Clerks....Movie studios should have more faith in their product, rather than having studio plants write almost delusionally good reviews for their movies.Some I have read are truly laughable, and almost dissuade the reader from watching the finished product, which is a shame, because this, despite all it's shortcomings, is a lot of fun.So the majority of the narrative is set in the titular spot, and between having little arguments between the pair of them, and trying to justify their actions to Levi, we have the random people you'd expect to pop into a petrol station at silly o' clock in the morning, with very mixed results.With the exception of Head, who plays the most human character in the film as a man who has appeared to have lost something dear to him, the customers never really have any connection between Ajay and Shaan, and Levi.They just appear to be ignorant, Abhorrent, or both toward the customers. And the customers weird traits are just too random to be anything other than eye-rollingly predictable.So it's good that the three main characters have a lot of depth, chemistry, and an altogether sense of realness to hold the film together.Yes, it does reference Clerks, but when a film is set mainly in a place of convenience, it's sometimes understandably unavoidable.There is a subplot involving Levi and her father (whom just happens to be the manager), but it's never really focused on too much, and the final fifteen minutes does leave a lot to be desired, but because the three main characters are so likable, you can forgive it's shortcomings, and enjoy it for what it is.A likable, harmless comedy.

When a film is put together in just a matter of a few weeks and the result is this film, then I take my hat off!! Sheer entertainment with some great gags and top performances. A refreshing take on a gangster film. And with such class cameos - what's not to love about Vicky McClure and yes I've always had a soft spot for Anthony Stewart Head - ahem!! It may be low budget, but it's high class. There aren't enough films being made, where the plot doesn't take itself too seriously, but where you sense that the people behind the camera love doing what they do and are good at it too!! As Oliver Twist once said 'please Sir, can I have some more' Ray Panthaki and Adeel Akhatar definitely shouldn't stop here. Great work!!