Flair Magazine Disclaimer: This film review has spoilers
Even though “Welad Rizk” (Risk Brothers), directed by Tarek El Erian, do not need any introduction, yet to recap, they are four orphaned brothers since a young age, who have went into life of theft and burglary in order to make ends meet, however, since we last saw in 2015 they have retired.
In the new sequel, also directed by El Erian, the brothers, comprised of “Reda”, played by the phenomenal Ahmed Ezz, “Rabea”, Amr Youssef, “Ragab”, Ahmed El Fishawy, and “Ramadan”, Karim Kassem, along with their loyal brother from another mother, “Atef”, Ahmed Daoud, decided to go back in the game in response to an offer given to them by former police officer “Raouf Hamzawy”, played cunningly by none other than Mohamed Mamdouh.
Now that we are over the intro, we can easily say, if you want to laugh your heart out, lose your breath and get the urge punch someone, go watch it. What can I say, it must have been a joy ride to shoot this film. Adrenaline junkies will dig it, given the Lamborghini sports cars’ chases (mind you one of them crashed), or the crazy jabs Ezz, gave to a few of guys, that knocked the wind out of them, this film hits the sweet spot of the ideal amount of adrenaline rush.
Luckily, the experienced director El Erian, gave us a breather every now and then of hysterical laughs that balanced it well, and the brothers inside jokes added the perfect buzz, by which the discovery this time was of “Ramadan” became the point of an interest of being a “toyboy” of “Nancy” played by the gorgeous Ghada Adel, who was without being graphic was slapped around, which made the cinema theatre breakout hysterically laughing in those scenes.
The romance, was still there between but also to Reda, whose character was still the hot blooded bad boy, got married to his long time love “Hanan” played by Nesreen Ameen, who gave him a young son, She resembled to him the reminder of an honest life, and we were able to see his softer side, to see the man who is struggling to save his brothers, while trying to keep his home put together and prevent it from collapsing.
The best way to put it in words is to say that Ezz was the man of the film, his acting is what can be described as easier said than done. He would make you believe that it is effortless, yet when you do watch the plot develop you will know that he is the one that is carrying this film on his shoulders—not because he is the main hero of the film—but rather he is capable of expressing emotions and reactions, with killer comeback lines, that you would know that most of the film’s best scenes he made them happen.
Evidently, all main five actors took the same screen space, yet Ezz dominated with his charismatic screen presence that you would know he made a major effort to deliver Reda to the audience, and rightfully he did. It is believable to reach a point in the film that even his accent would seem that he was born and raised in the slums of Cairo, “Ain El Sira”, specifically when he mentioned “Shaabi” singer, “Hamo Beeka”, his pronunciation to the name was on point. It might seem trivial to some to take note of that, but in fact it does add depth and credibility to the character.
Kudos to Ezz for giving to the audience a sensational character that we all root for, and can’t wait to see in the what looks like a new sequel to the film. The Rizk Brothers are a staple now and we cannot get enough of them. I hope in my naïve sense to see them in many sequels for many years to come.
By Sara Zarif
