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Scrapper Movie Review

Scrapper is a 2023 British independent dramedy film directed by Charlotte Regan and starring Lola Campbell and Harris Dickinson. It’s a very sweet flick.

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“Now that I know you,

I can’t really NOT know you“

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Living alone in her London flat, 12-year-old Georgie must confront reality when her estranged father, Jason, shows up out of nowhere. Uninterested in a sudden new parental figure, she remains stubbornly resistant to his efforts. As they both adjust to their new circumstances, Georgie and Jason soon find that they still have a lot of growing up to do. This is one of the best indies of the year, a film that brings a smile to your face, especially in its ending.

Brits are famous for their social dramas, but this is a different kind of social drama that is more lightweight and optimistic in its approach than dreary and depressing. I welcome that shift in focus as quite refreshing. It made the movie enjoyable and timeless. The ending was particularly moving and genuinely so instead of being manipulative.

This is the kind of story that hinges heavily on its actors to carry it through the finish line, which is exactly what these two competent young actors did. Harris Dickinson of ‘Beach Rats’ fame delivered another stellar work and he was entirely believable in the role of Jason, a perpetual teenager at heart. But even better was Lola Campbell as the feisty Georgie. She delivered a genuinely superb performance and she is a child actress to watch for sure.

Scrapper is at its best when it is focusing on just these two and their lovely, though at first complicated relationship. Their dynamic was very realistic and the film was earned in its emotions due to strong character work and fantastic dialogue.

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The movie is also well shot and directed, but my issue with Regan’s directing lies in the editing. Too often she would let the editors cut the scene in an unfortunate manner, either rushing or prolonging it unnecessarily. The decision to include those quick cuts at the history of Jason was also not needed for this type of story, making it seem too flashy. The overall premise is somewhat difficult to buy, but the execution of its premise and the superb casting made up for that issue quite successfully.