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Bookmark this pageSon of Rambow (2007)
Director: Garth Jennings
Movie review
From Time Out London
Garth Jennings’s last film, ‘The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, had visual imagination to burn, but was less sure-footed when it came to plot and character. It’s a pleasure, then, to find that his follow-up shows just as much wit and verve in its production design, while also succeeding as storytelling: ‘Son of Rambow’ is a schoolboy yarn with a bracing emotional honestythat packs a real kick.
Jennings takes us to the early ’80s Home Counties suburbia of his youth for the story of two mismatched pre-teens. Will (Bill Milner) is the sheltered son of a strict religious family, whose father has died in the Falklands and has never even watched TV; Lee (Will Poulter) is the tougher wide-boy, a latchkey kid who bullies and then befriends Will as they embark on a homemade VHS opus, after seeing a pirate copy of ‘First Blood’.
Meanwhile, a group of French exchange students descend on the school, including one particular guy who constitutes a New Wave all of his own. Will is a keen doodler, and his sketches burst out across the countryside in playful CGI, but there’s also great entertainment in the boys’ lo-tech Heath-Robinson production plans.
Backyard remakes are very much of the moment – think Michel Gondry’s ‘Be Kind Rewind’ – but ‘Son of Rambow’ integrates its slapstick genre pastiche into a thoughtful story about peer pressure, neglect and yearning. Both Milner and Poulter are terrific; their performances, along with a keen eye for the indignities of the playground, help keep things the right side of sentimentality.
Author: Ben Walters
Time Out London Issue 1963 – April 3 – 9
User reviews of this film
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- Nikki said...
- Posted on Dec 01 2009 09:14 A really great film, made me laugh countless times, especially the french kid. I dont understand why some of the comments here are being stupid by writing, "didnt make me laugh", you have to understand that this wasn't just comdey, but drama as well....and I enjoyed!!
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- Chris said...
- Posted on Nov 07 2009 13:05 This film is the funniest I've seen in a long time. It isn't obvious, in your face pie-in-face comedy - it's much more genuine and funnier as a result. The French kid in particular made me crease. Go watch this film.
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- Adam said...
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Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:30
Film was great! But ateeq ali...
Ateeq Ali is a .................. - Report as inappropriate
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- Karan Dhimar said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:29 That was some brappage
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- Joe said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:29 RACISM.
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- Adam said...
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Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:28
Tank trouble Or Boxhead?
Hard choice! - Report as inappropriate
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- ATEEQ ALI said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:27 JOE IS GETTING MIXED UP IT WERNT THAT GOOD
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- Joe said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2009 14:24 Great film, made me laugh loads. =0
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- bob said...
- Posted on Jun 01 2009 16:21 boring boring boring, this is an absulute discrace of a film that is so boring, pointless and frustrating. i absolutly loathed it and for me it has to be 'the worst film of all time'
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- Monikka said...
- Posted on Mar 29 2009 07:53 I loved it. Its a good change from the stupid mall cop movie my friends dragged me to.
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- Nikki Murphy said...
- Posted on Aug 26 2008 22:45 Rubbish. Didn't laugh once. Kids frightened to death after almost watching a child drown in oil. So much for comedy!
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- shane said...
- Posted on Jul 15 2008 22:41 im going to see this film just because some film critic who cant spell said not too.
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- dottie said...
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Posted on Jun 02 2008 16:45
I thought this film was excellent. The kids' performances were touching, and I found myself laughing out loud several times :D I like American films as well as British ones, but it was nice to see a film about school kids which wasn't set in America, very refreshing.
Just a note though, to usman khawaja - the british countryside CAN look glorious in summer, but the England I live in has a lot of overcast days as well (probably MORE overcast days than sunny ones) - I wouldn't say that the countryside not being perfect is a fault of the film. It's more like an accurate representation of Britain. It doesn't all look like a postcard :) - Report as inappropriate
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- apple said...
- Posted on May 29 2008 17:02 I thought it was brilliant. I think its been pulled from the cineam though! It was funny, sweet and really charming! I would say 4 out of 5 stars. I would see it again!
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- Pippa said...
- Posted on May 05 2008 14:41 A sweet, and in places sad, well-directed and well-acted film, just manages to stay clear of sentimentality. Some nice eighties references for old folks like me :-). But definitely not an action movie!
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Cast & crew
Director: Garth Jennings
Cast: Bill Milner, Will Poulter, Jules Sitruk, Jessica Stevenson, Zofia Brooks, Neil Dudgeon, Tallulah Evans, Adam Godley, Jessica Hynes full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: 12A
Duration: 95 mins
UK Release: Apr 4 2008
US Release: Apr 4 2008
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