Fast Girls Review

• 10th Oct 2012

After an epic summer proudly brought to us by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Fast Girls has hit dvd just in time for you to relive the glory and excitement as it invites you back to the edge of your seat once again, and what an exhilarating place that is to be!

With a beautifully timed pre-olympic cinema release in June this year Fast Girls opened to rave reviews however for anyone who may have missed this gem in the cinema you have not missed your chance to experience this gorgeous, electrifying film on both dvd and blu-ray from October 8.

Fast Girls manages to blend the warmth and sense of home found in films such as Bend it like Beckham with stunning urban cinematography and an edgy, extremely punchy soundtrack.

A strong willed, slightly volatile Shania (adoringly played by London’s very own Lenora Crichlow) faces the trials and confrontations of a professional athlete on the rise as she joins the ranks of GB’s finest on the track in both individual and relay sprints.

I’m not going to lie.  You would know how this film pans out from here. There’s a cute boy (Merlin’s adorable Prince Arthur, Bradley James) who despite his sweet caring nature and stunning blue eyes is off limits.  There’s an adversary (perfectly depicted by Lily James)who is from a part of town which is very much the other side of the tracks from Shania’s unsettled, seemingly unsupportive council flat home.  Of course being from the the other, more affluent side comes with it’s own pressures.  There’s an overly competitive Father, a sweet, compassionate, elderly coach who never loses faith, a good ol’ girls night out on the lash, an incident that could put the whole team at risk of failure and I don’t want to spoil the end but I think you have a firm idea of where this is all heading.

I must add however at this point that a good film does not need massive twists and turns.  Not every film needs a Kayzer Soze or a posthumous Dr. Malcolm Crowe.  Some of the finest films are based around stories we already know and whilst this film doesn’t necessarily own the elements of shock or surprise it made me cry, cheer, dance and warmed my heart in a way so few films in recent times have done.

Director Regan Hall has taken a classic tale of friendship and the quest for success against all odds and painted it urban, snappy and cool.  This along with a killer soundtrack (a must buy!) makes Fast Girls a must see film.

Kath Haling