Harvard or whatever Ivy league college student ends up in London and joins the ICF or GSE in this case. It also happens to be Elijah Wood, which if your not giggling already, proves himself in the most stupid hooligans fight scene I've seen. There was some research, either a few well known books or talked to some known casuals. Pubs and train stations are the preferred ambush if no arena has been agreed. It seems like some Yank has seen this happening and made a film with US interest, which is why it fails, except on laughs.

Can you imagine that there is a single football hooligan in the whole of British football history that would be intimidated by the sight of Elijah Wood - running at them with his watery eyes, soft round face and clenched, child-like fists? Nah. Me neither. Poor casting, faintly ridiculous story and a bizarre caricatured representation of what British footballing culture used to be.

Despite what some reviews try to let us believe: it is exactly what the title says. It is a tough movie full of idiot behavior of scared, pathetic men. Of course there is always an other side to people. This also goes for hooligans. If you are irritated about stupid behavior too much and cannot look through the story, then this is not a movie for you. Otherwise this is quite a nice movie.

The film is about football violence between firms from West Ham and Milwall and has enough factual basis to make the plot remotely plausible. Unfortunately, the actor playing the lead thug, Pete, puts on an awful East End accent - nearly bad enough to make me switch off. A big shame as this takes a lot away from the film. Perhaps, for those not familiar with London accents, this may not be such an issue. (Since watching I've found that this has been a major point of criticism). It's refreshing that the story is presented without over-moralising. There is a hint of twee-ness in places but I found it to be at a level that's acceptable - after all, its a work of fiction not a pseudo- documentary. This film isn't the formulaic rubbish that is dominant now - it retains a grittiness to the end and is well worth a butchers.