Make no mistake, the British comedy/drama Dough is a very quirky and cute film. Its two lead characters are likable and the gifted cast earn several chuckles from their confection-related hi-jinx. While enjoyable in the moment, the light approach leaves the contents feeling insubstantial. This is a decent movie, but one that doesn’t really stay with you. I saw it a week ago and am already having a difficult time recalling some of the details.
Nat (Jonathan Pryce) is a Jewish baker struggling to keep the family business afloat. A retail chain wants to buy him out, and even Nat’s lawyer son wants him to sell and retire. Desperate for help, he takes on a new apprentice named Shaun (Malachi Kirby). Nat soon discovers that the boy is a young Muslim immigrant from Darfur. Of course, the pair initially butt heads, but their prejudices soon begin to give way to appreciation and affection. And business booms when Shaun accidentally drops marijuana into the baking mix.
Truthfully, it takes a lot longer than one would expect for any illicit ingredients to enter the mixing stage. Much of the movie deals with the relationship between the two men in the kitchen. Some of the character’s narrow-mindedness seems especially exaggerated for the story. While I’m sure there still are some people like this in the world, the stereotypes expressed and a couple of pointed comments seem a bit too ignorant to really believe. Additionally, Cotton (Philip Davis), the villain of the piece, is written in too snarly and one-note a manner to truly feel authentic.
The food itself looks delicious and it is funny to see the varied clientele arriving for these drug-laced goodies. It’s also entertaining to witness Nat’s confusion at the veiled questions he’s being asked by customers. While, some of the situations that occur as a result of the scheme are amusing, others strain suspension of disbelief. When Nat, his family and friends begin eating, giggling and enjoying the products a little too much, it’s difficult to imagine that absolutely no one would make the connection.
And the dramatic passages late in the movie feel at odds with the lighter tone carried through earlier sections. After seeing a lot of gentle humor as the old man is aggressively pursued by a local woman (Pauline Collins) and knowing looks from Shaun after feeding his product to the neighborhood, it can help but feel out of place when the story takes a heavy turn with the reintroduction of violent drug dealers.
At least the movie’s heart is in the right place. And thankfully, the two lead performances are grounded enough to at least keep our attention and not give up on the enterprise. The movie admirably attempts to poke fun at stereotypes and prejudices. It’s just that one wishes the story itself wasn’t so generic and formulaic. Dough is a sweet enough film that will certainly play well to an older audience. For the rest of us, it’s probably fine to wait and check it out on the small screen.