Financial traders in the movies are usually hubris personified, while boxers are a sure-fire vehicle for an underdog story. Writing, and playing, the role of reformed city fraudster turned pugilist Danny Goode, as well as directing the low-budget British drama that results, Mark Hampton sets up a potentially fertile collision of these two opposed elements. But cornering himself into an ultra-earnest tale of redemption, he lets his film absorb a few too many cheap cliche shots.
Danny is released after a three-year stretch for cooking the books; and, as a former high-rolling member of a late-night/early-morning gambling crew called the Breakfast Club, he now must accept diminished circumstances. This means a poky rental flat and, after his licence to trade is revoked, a restaurant job washing dishes arranged by an old friend, Jon (Mark Tunstall). His ex-wife, Chloe (Sarah Diamond), has the divorce papers ready to go, but Danny is keen to build bridges with his son, Ben (Artie Wong). He promises the kid a swanky holiday, so one more high-risk play is his only means of coming good: entering a £10,000 prize fight organised by local hardman Billy (Gary Davidson Jnr), who trains at Jon’s gym.
Hampton has an easy screen charisma, and his handsomely shot film appears to be in fighting shape. But it proves sluggish on its feet, taking far too long over sappy and generic family wranglings that feel like EastEnders offcuts. It doesn’t start to make dramatic full contact until it is almost too late, outlining Danny’s gambling addiction (there is a nice scene in which access to banking apps makes it surprisingly easy to raise the £5,000 entry stake needed). Or, in counterpoint, how his business acumen allows him to turn around Jon’s flagging restaurant.
Unlicensed’s straightforwardness suggests it may be a personal project for Hampton. But it feels less committed to exploring its protagonist’s compulsions and foibles than in paving an easy road for his comeback. Despite the prospect hanging over Danny of owing the local hard nut in perpetuity, the boxing bout plays out in the time-honoured Rocky manner. Betting on the worst-case outcome might have made for a more interesting film.
