Move Review: Son of Rambow

When kids are the lead actors in a film you are sure to be charmed easily. If one of the kids is a brilliant actor you will be charmed for sure. Combine the two with generous doses of 'First Blood', the ideals of the Plymouth Brethren and Garth Jennings and we have a the recipe for the perfect film. Yes, I said 'perfect' and that means I am giving it full points!

1. Will Poulter, I promise to watch every film you make for the next few years. You are a great actor. I see you like football but give it up, kid! You are born to act.
2. STORY: This story is so down to earth. Nothing extraordinary ever happens in the film. They don't win the award they are aiming for. What do they win? Something more valuable. One gets the chance to pursue his interests, the other wins a brother and the two win each other's friendship. There are so many happening in this film, the angle of the Brethren, Lee's elder brother, the French exchange student. I love them all. I like the small things here like the way the watch is used (surfaces finally with Lee's elder brother and I didn't expect that!), the way Frank has been used etc. If I was not watching this film with my father I'd have tears in my eyes watching 'Son of Rambow' in the big screen for the first time with Lee.
3. Roger Ebert says there is no sense of urgency in the film. I noticed that too but now I feel that is how life as a kid is. No kid is in a hurry. It's us as adults who are always worried of 'things of consequence' ("The Litte Prince"). 'Son of Rambow' is about kids and their lives. It is about their days. They are in no hurry, except to meet the deadline for 'Screen Test'. I'd like to believe this was the intention with which Jennings paced the film so.
4. WHERE LESSER FILMS WOULD HAVE REMAINED LESSER FILMS: An easy way to finish off this movie would have been when Lee Carter saves Will Proudfoot. At this point they would have put aside their differences and gone on to win 'Screen Test'. But Garth Jennings decides he wants to make this movie a little more than about winning a competition.
   

CONCLUSION: I'd love to own a copy of this on DVD. Maybe I will take my own camera to shoot a film.

RATING: 5/5