Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
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
-
- Lance said...
- Posted on May 04 2008 16:07 It was total crap. But, what else do you expect from british cenima?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Hol and Pete said...
-
Posted on May 01 2008 19:25
I really do think you guys need to SPELL before you put bad comments in because it means the jokes on you if you think about it! He he he he.
Take a tip from my book, think before you say. - Report as inappropriate
-
- apple said...
- Posted on Apr 27 2008 19:01 I thought this film was great.It was really funny,sweet but is sad too.I was not sure what it was going to be like.But I think lots of people would love this film.It was really great! =]
- Report as inappropriate
-
- vincent said...
- Posted on Apr 25 2008 17:10 one of the worst films we have seen in a long time. the acting was wooden (unlike kite runners) .Losing faith in certain film critics
- Report as inappropriate
-
- michael gilbey said...
- Posted on Apr 24 2008 23:20 I found this movie funny and entertaining and i am pleased there was no tragic ending. This would have been very unjust after all those boys had been through together and i would left the cinema feeling very low and I would never have wanted to see it again. I am happy to say that I will probably see it at least twenty times (hopefully) before I die. Excellent film, great performances from the kids!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lulu said...
-
Posted on Apr 24 2008 21:27
Film is a masterpiece of wit and humour - which us Brits do best. Refreshing to watch a film which is not afriad to be a little different. Full of nostalga & emotion, am sure it will become a British classic.
Best film in ages, going back with the kids. - Report as inappropriate
-
- gary said...
- Posted on Apr 24 2008 12:15 good film, plenty of action, good story line. shame you get these morons, if only they shut up,listen maybe just maybe they might understend. if your an american well you will always be lost.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- mossy said...
- Posted on Apr 24 2008 10:50 do not see this film is the worst film in the world I went with 11 of my mates and we all thought it was absolutyy rubbish DO NOT SEE THIS FILM AND IM ENGLISH AND i THOUGHT IT WAS RIBBISH
- Report as inappropriate
-
- JelllyEllie said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2008 20:46 well this film looked ok and it was brill haha!! :P
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Baz said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2008 10:13 Before I can take any of the comments above seriously, you people need to learn HOW TO SPELL.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- top potato said...
- Posted on Apr 20 2008 22:23 Go and see this film. Its full of joy and laughter with a good helping of slightly (but not over) sentimental sadness. One of the best feelgood movies for a long time. As for those idiots who didn't get it (yes you YANKEEHEEHEE and Usman). You have no soul.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- top potato said...
- Posted on Apr 20 2008 19:49 I am about to go and see this film. 2 comments before I do. First, yankee john is clearly a crass brain free YANKEE whom the rest of us should henceforth ignore. Did I mention that he was a YANKEE? Nuff said. Second, Usman khawaja liked St Trinians!!!!!! Go and read the Sun instead, if thats not too highbrow for you!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- rassclart said...
- Posted on Apr 20 2008 15:25 wahhgwan peeps!! diiss film probz gnaa b crap?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Lorna said...
- Posted on Apr 20 2008 10:13 well isn't yanky john a bit of an idiot...why are you calling yourself yanky john and then having a go at someone calling you a yankee?! god you dumbass...also you can't put them in court for something like that...get a blimmin life!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Allie said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 20:04 This film was everything you'd want for quality entertainment. I went along with my 8 year old expecting another dreary kids movie, but found myself lost in the quality acting, storyline and emotions of my own childhood. The best film I've seen for a long time! A must see for 2008!!!
- Report as inappropriate
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
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Time Out's 101 Films of the Decade
Ten years, thousands of movies and millions of dollars in international box office, and it all boils down to this
Martin Provost discusses 'Séraphine'
Trevor Johnston talks to the director of 'Séraphine' about bringing a little known French painter back to life
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now