DVD Review: Slim extras accompany ‘Dope’

A smart, ambitious African-American high school kid is determined to escape the ghetto — in this case, Inglewood — and go to college. That hook could describe numerous films, going back at least as far as John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” (1991). What makes “Dope” different is that it’s a comedy, and its characters aren’t all the stock types that have grown old in the last 24 years.

For a start, writer/director Rick Famuyiwa (“The Wood”) makes the hero, Malcolm (Shameik Moore), not just a genius, but also a self-acknowledged geek. Malcolm is obsessed with hip-hop music — as long as it’s 20 years out of date. The punk-cum-hip-hop band he leads is good but retro. His two best friends — who may be his only friends — are fellow geeks: the overly cautious Jib (Tony Revolori); and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons), a waifish lesbian who most people mistake for a guy. (There is a quick and clever reference to “Boys Don’t Cry.”)

Malcolm’s geekiness makes him more than a little awkward. Moore — in his first major on-screen role — gives a terrific, possibly unique performance. Some of his problem is just adolescent social/sexual insecurity; at other times, it represents his ability to disappear into his own thoughts while he calculates the best response to whatever situation he’s in. It doesn’t help that his big crush (Zoe Kravitz) is the girlfriend of a scary local dope dealer (Rakim Mayers).

The always welcome Roger Guenveur Smith gives just as strange a performance. Famuyiwa is surely the origin of these weird touches. His narrative and visual styles go odd near the end, as Malcolm breaks the fourth wall to deliver the thematic wrap-up.

The transfer on the new Blu-ray is an accurate reproduction, as is expected on a recent film. The extras are slim, just two 31/2 -minute promotional shorts. It would have been really interesting to hear a commentary track by Famuyiwa, but no such luck.

Dope (Universal, Blu-ray/DVD combo, $34.98; DVD, $29.98)

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ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on “FilmWeek” on KPCC-FM (89.3).