Dope

There are three definitions given for the title at the beginning of Dope, and by the end, we’ve gone through them all.

This dope coming-of-age comedy is about dopes and dope dealers, but it’s also a heartfelt and perceptive examination of cultural trends with style and energy to spare.

Malcolm (Shameik Moore) is certainly not a dope, but rather a self-proclaimed geek growing up on the rough streets of Inglewood, Calif., who wears a high-top haircut and colorful clothes straight out of 1990s rap videos. He has a fledgling punk band with bike-riding buddies Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons) and has Harvard aspirations. His eccentric tastes earn him the trust of his single mom (Kimberly Elise) yet make him a social outcast.

However, part of him still wants to fit in, and so when a drug dealer (ASAP Rocky) invites him to a party — which Malcolm sees as a chance to secure a potential prom date — Malcolm winds up in a chaotic adventure involving hallucinogens, stolen guns, Bitcoins, and viral videos.

The screenplay by director Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood) contains some heavy-handed tendencies in its effort to shatter socioeconomic stereotypes, yet it also deserves praise for thinking big while not losing its sense of fun.

The film tends to be a bit of an uneven mess at times — combining elements of nostalgic satire, crime drama, high school awkwardness, musical dreams, and budding romance — but Famuyiwa, with plenty of visual flair, makes a convincing argument that such is the life of a teenager growing up on the streets of suburban Los Angeles today.

And that’s where the film works — not because of its storytelling prowess as much as for its evocative character-driven approach. It’s a smart and savvy enterprise that should appeal both to contemporary youngsters who have grown up with single parents and social media, and older viewers who will appreciate the fashions and music from the 1990s hip-hop scene.

Moore’s charismatic breakthrough performance leads an eclectic cast that includes some rappers and models, former basketball star Rick Fox, and the offspring of Lenny Kravitz and Sean Combs in supporting roles.

As it puts a fresh twist on familiar themes, Dope is a charming crowd-pleaser that resonates with authenticity. It spotlights a main character that might have you not only sympathizing with him, but identifying with him as well.

Rated R, 115 minutes.