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
-
- 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
-
- DevilGal said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 19:57 ENGLISH FILMS DO NOT SUCK. Its the crappy American ones that do.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- DevilGal said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 19:55 Also i agree. No one wants to read your crap about going to see the film, I mean who does?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- DevilGal said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 19:51 I think this film was one of the best i have seen all year, which trust me is a lot! Its hilarious and really moving and anyone who hasn't seen it, i would go and see it as soon as possible, hopefully you wont regret it! My fave part was when Will fell in the river and Lee had to go and fish him out (hee hee... Fish dont ya get it???... anyway) that part was really moving. You must go and see this film... ITS GREAT!! And it appeals to both Adults and Children!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- yanky john said...
-
Posted on Apr 19 2008 18:12
dont call us yanks its offensive and ill have u in court!!!!
film was turd - Report as inappropriate
-
- kulvinder said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 12:59 i am here to tell all those yanks that are postiong bullshit about the films they havent even seen to get a life and stop pikin on the english !!!!! ive seen aload of yanky films recently and to b honest AMERICAN FILM= SHIT britain have made sum wicked films recently so bugger off !!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- C A said...
- Posted on Apr 19 2008 11:10 After reading the varied reviews went to see film with mixed feelings. Unexpectedly brilliant, enjoyed every moment - funny and touching. Ditto PLEASE dont comment if u not even seen film!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Josh said...
- Posted on Apr 18 2008 20:08 I think this movie looks great, cant decide - wat du ya rekon? shall i go see?
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sam said...
- Posted on Apr 18 2008 10:16 i furt it was the worst film since the titanic
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Lance said...
- Posted on Apr 16 2008 23:00 But what do you expect.....English film = SUCK!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Lance said...
- Posted on Apr 16 2008 22:58 it was total crap
- Report as inappropriate
-
- usman khawaja said...
-
Posted on Apr 16 2008 12:19
i really was expecting a witty ,pleasant comic spoof of first blood ,instead i saw a very dull drama of two english kids in the confines of english summer in rural england ,which was anything if not dull and unpleasing to the eye as well .
unfortunately bill and will are the 2 protagonists who come together to make this mirthless comedy with a camera in the most implausible plot ,which is so subtle in humour it ceases to be a comedy or even funny ,the makers have unintentionally made it boringly tasteful and as such tasteless as it is very unappetising due to its underwritten script .
bill is the young actor from this is england and WILL is the son of rambow ,the story is impassive and indulgent and never strikes a chord ,leaving at least me bored out of my wits .
the english rural schools are much more fun as was first blood,when it came out in eighties but this is a damp squid , ST.TRINIANS was much better than this dreary movie ,and the english contryside looks glorious in summer unlike the dull cinematography in this silly effort which is so regrettably lacklustre .
this is as bad as cottage and that was awful,i will not dream or even have a nightmare where i will expose myself to this childish folly about some silly children running around like headless chicken in a moronic script .
the opening sequence where bill bullies willy was perhaps the best executed ,and the scene where they try to film a demented gentlemen in a nursing home as a victim being rescued by son of rambo was pathetic and tastelessly bad ,as well as being totally daft .
which can easily be said about the rest of the uneven movie itself .
i hope no kids follow in the footsteps of these two hilly billies .
RAM-BOO - Report as inappropriate
-
- Ben said...
- Posted on Apr 15 2008 21:06 I found this film hilarious and laughed my head off many times. I personally thought the part where he fell in the river was hilarious!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- SpongeBob said...
-
Posted on Apr 15 2008 17:35
Firstly, i quite liked this film (it was a bit of lighthearted fun with the odd issue thrown in) and my children loved it.
remember that this section is supposed to be a REVIEW of the film and not a section for telling people that you intend to go! nobody cares if you are going to see it - ok!
anyone who has been and seen the film, could help if they said specifically what was good or bad about it.
message to the Modorator - Please only post reviews. - Report as inappropriate
-
- michelle said...
- Posted on Apr 13 2008 23:36 what aload of rubbish the worst film ihave see in a long time
- 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
Review: Penélope Cruz more raunchy than ever in 'Nine'
Dave Calhoun reports on Rob Marshall's Oscar-touted musical with Daniel Day-Lewis playing a troubled director
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
Jim Jarmusch on 'The Limits of Control'
Jim Jarmusch has followed ‘Broken Flowers’ with an esoteric crime mystery. Dave Calhoun speaks to him from his New York office
Richard Linklater on 'Me and Orson Welles'
Dave Calhoun meets the 49-year-old, Houston-born filmmaker Richard Linklater to discuss his new comedy
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
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
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