Deep Cover will stream globally on Prime Video from June 12, 2025.
Synopsis
The film is a fast-paced action comedy set in London. Kat (Howard), an aspiring comedian, is currently teaching improv classes and beginning to question if she’s missed her chance at success when an undercover policeman offers her the role of a lifetime. Kat, with two of her improv students – Marlon (Bloom) and Hugh (Nick Mohammed, Ted Lasso), must infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals. The trio quickly find themselves in over their heads.
Review
What do you get when you cross Jurassic World writer/director with Stath Lets Flats’ Tom Kingsley and throw in a dash of Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso)? The answer is Prime Video’s crowd pleasing new original movie Deep Cover, streaming June 12.
Howard plays Kat, a down on her luck actor who has turned to teaching improv at London’s Comedy Store to make ends meet. Her friends are all West London yummy mummy’s with 4×4 cars and plus homes. Whilst Kat still orders from their favourite Chinese restaurant from when they were students. Attending Kat’s improv class is Marlon (Bloom). Marlon sees himself as a Daniel Day Lewis but his biggest claim to fame is as the mascot of a pizza delivery restaurant. He sees the backstory and deeper meaning in even the flimsiest of characters but just never seems to get the part. They’re eventually joined by Hugh (Mohammed), an IT guy who just doesn’t fit in around the office.
After being approached by an office from the Met Police (Sean Bean), Kat ropes in Marlon and Hugh in the hope a payday might just help with her financial issues. But when their improv skills take them beyond the mission parameters the trio find themselves caught up an in ever increasing comedy of errors.
Deep Cover is only Kinglsey’s third credit as a director. Best known for his BAFTA award-winning work on Stath Let’s Flats, Kinglsey brings Deep Cover to the screen with an incredible self-assuredness. The film exudes style and class, presenting itself much more of an indie comedy than a streaming darling. With a similar gusto to 28 Days Later stealing moments of empty streets. Deep Cover feels lovingly composed by a cast and crew working in perfect synergy. Grabbing the opportunity to craft something special with both hands. It’s rare for a streaming film to feel this potent. But Kingsley’s leadership has undoubtedly culminated in a film which rarely puts a foot wrong.
At the heart of the is the core trio of actors. Each brings something very different to the party. With a distinctly British comedy at its heart, Nick Mohammed becomes Deep Cover’s lethal weapon. Hugh is the average Joe who becomes the audience’s entry point to the world of improv. Though the film quickly adapts to become an ensemble piece, it’s through Hugh that much of the comedy elements are established. Conversely to Mohammed is Orlando Bloom. Known predominantly as a Hollywood straight man, Bloom fits naturally in to a more comedic role through his dead pan delivery. His unwavering commitment to Marlon feeds in to the character’s own bewildering level of self belief. It’s a rare cast of perfect casting which pays off in spades when Marlon more than dedicates to the role of Kat’s muscle man (and brother-in-law).
Meanwhile Bryce Dallas Howard brings a dynamic personality and major presence to the screen. Howard has a proven track record of powerful character performances across multiple genres. All of that comes in to play in Deep Cover as Kat takes on a leadership role, dominating the others and charging head-first in to chaos. There’s a cultural element to that domination. Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen’s screenplay plays in to the American versus British personality clash without exploiting it or being unkind. Regardless, Howard is magnetic to watch in every scene. Rounding out the cast perfectly.
The supporting cast of Sean Bean, Paddy Considine, Ian McShane and Sonoya Mizuno are each brilliantly placed to bring Deep Cover to life. Whilst plenty of faces are recognisable, their roles paint them in to the background and instead place them as key cogs in the inner workings of London’s underworld. In these moments Deep Cover revels in painting its own picture of the world, finding comedy in the bleakness but allowing for moments of dramatic tension and action. It presents a vision of London without all of the Hollywood glamour. Instead opting to traverse the streets all the way from Oxford Street to Camden’s locks. Importantly it feels real and never pastiche.
The structure of the film’s story remains fairly traditional. It does everything it needs to, allowing the cast and their performances to make it special. It ebbs and flows neatly from start to finish with plenty of time to do all the necessary build up. Once we’re up and running there’s a scandalous amount of laughs (and the odd shock) to be had watching just how far the trio can push their luck. But it does inevitably lead to a fall. In those moments Deep Cover’s screenplay flexes brilliantly to allow for drama to replace comedy for a brief moment. Of course the team rallies and it leads in to a brilliant finale complete with a flurry of gunfire and fireworks.
Verdict
Deep Cover is a raucous crowd pleaser of a film. Tom Kingsley and team has crafted a bonkers caper which hangs its hat on the sheer charisma and chemistry of its core trio. Howard, Bloom and Mohammed are a dynamite trio on screen. As their worlds continue to crumble the laughs keep coming. It’s just a shame the film hasn’t had the chance to find its audience on the big screen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
