T2: Trainspotting ~ Movie Review

I obviously led a sheltered life, I was 24 when I first watched Trainspotting and I must admit it really wasn't my cup of tea. In fact the world it portrayed seemed too far fetched and insane to be realistic, I was honestly disgusted by the adult and mature content. I never understood the themes of friendship and the love of life that many others adored it for.
Now twenty years later the cast had regrouped to bring the cult fans some new material with T2 Trainspotting. Unfortunately this was an unmissable opportunity for an Anniversary date (I did manage to sidestep the double bill!).

Driven by ill health and a frankly depressing life, the absconded Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns filled with nostalgia and hope, that 20 years is a long time for feuds and a short time for friendship.
Spud (Ewen Bremner) hasn't really changed, he was my favourite character from the first and still is. His insight into the minds and problems of the group provide a fantastic backdrop to the narrative.
Sickboy (Jonny Lee Miller) still chases the quick con and the easy way out of the dull existence that drags him further away from his high flying dreams.
Begbie ( Robert Carlyle), well he's still an angry little man that reminds us of someone we know. The psychotic yoyo-ing of his temperament keep everyone on the edge waiting for the next outburst.

Familiar characters such as Tommy (Kevin McKidd) have a memorial, Diane (Kelly Macdonald), has a bit part, all to show how time has evolved and changed the characters. The locations are re-used from the first, and even Rentons poem is a topical spin off of the original.



There's enough of the drug culture and original themes to satisfy the fans, whilst additional nods to religious stereotyping and modern day adult problems show the joys of growing up. After 20 years they have all matured, but this film isn't about that. This is nostalgia designed to leave you longing for the days of dodgy music bad fashion and questionable life choices.

I actually found it to be a charming film with a lot of homages to the previous Trainspotting, it was clearly a work of love by all involved. The attention to the character development was clever and the whole story was really poignant, but not in stomach churning gory. A tale of retribution or redemption: it's sure to be a cult for a new generation.

First there was an opportunity......then there was a betrayal.