Prince of Broadway

The premise of Prince of Broadway could easily be taken straight from an episode of Maury; a disinterested, dominated young mother abandons a toddler who may or may not be the offspring of Lucky (Prince Adu). The unnamed child is the one semblance of innocence amongst the foul-mouthed hustlers, who sell knock off bags and trainers from the back room of a shop on Broadway. What saves the film is Prince Adu, who successfully conveys the panic and desperation felt by Lucky. While he may be embroiled in the seedy underworld of city life, he comes across as likeable and sympathetic, giving multiple layers to what could easily be a two-dimensional character. It is easy to forget Prince of Broadway is fictional, and for that it should be commended, but one must remember that the slow pace of real life does not always provide the substance required for a great film. [Becky Bartlett]