Noel Clarkes follow-up to Adulthood sees the tantalising prospect of four up and coming leading ladies tackling the crime thriller genre with a suitably complex storytelling structure. Boasting a surprising list of cameos and a highly polished look, this could be a turning point for British film making.

When four girls are inadvertently drawn into a diamond heist, things quickly spiral out of control in their already complicated personal lives. Lonely Shannon (Ophelia Lovibond) feels left out of the group and is burdened with guilt with no-one to talk to. She runs into a fiery Femme Fatale (Kelly) who wants something she doesnt have. Cassandra (Tasmin Egerton) flies off to the US to meet the man of her dreams, but is in for a nasty surprise and rushes back home just as Kerrys (Shanika Warren-Markland) meets up with Joanne (Emma Roberts) to try and get to the bottom of their troubles.

A glossy and well-made caper movie this certainly is, however its not nearly as clever as it wants to be. The script is sharp enough with some great dialogue often delivered with great aplomb but when director Clarke steps out from behind the camera the film loses focus. Its not an entirely original device at the core of this film, but the telling of inpidual stories with overlapping characters is well presented. There is a Hollywood polish to most of the scenes which elevates proceedings and points to a director who knows his stuff. Even when the script is reduced late on to nothing more than ego massaging, it still works even if it is slightly cringe worthy.

There is a feeling of Clarkes script trying to tick-off a number of pre-determined milestones and aiming to please an easily enraptured market place. When seemingly out of his comfort zone the film works well and manages to engage everyone, but as soon as the hood elements crop up you feel a sense of desperation and an inability to let go of old pastures.

There is a great chemistry amongst the principal cast, and even though we dont really get to spend that much time with them as a group, you do get a real sense of what makes them tick.

Until the director shows up, the film zips along at a terrific pace with great purpose. Its not that Clarke is bad; its just that his presence is entirely unnecessary. The girls however are terrific and have plenty of great material to get their teeth into, with Shanika Warren-Markland working wonders in the most challenging role. A bloated but enjoyable romp, if Noel Clarke can resist stepping out in front of the camera in future he will make something truly memorable.