Son of Rambow

Son of Rambow




The latest film from ‘Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy’ Director Garth Jennings promised to be a more subtle affair. A film about two young boys who dream of being action stars like their hero, Rambo. Who can’t associate with that?

Will Proudfoot(Bill Milner) is part of a puritan religion/cult called the Brethren. Whenever his school class are shown a video, Will is excused as he’s not allowed to watch television. It’s through this exclusion that he meets anarchic tearaway Lee Carter(Will Poulter). Initially Carter bullies Will, but they soon bond when Will unwittingly watches a pirate copy of Rambo. The film inspires the two kids to make their own film called Son of Rambow based on Will’s drawings.

Soon, their film gains popularity. Uber-cool French exchange student Didier drafts himself in as the new star, then everyone wants a piece. This serves as the film’s emotional punch as two social outcasts team up and become the most popular kids in school.

The acting in this movie is spot on. The main lads, Bill Milner and Will Poulter, fit their characters perfectly; Bill, the shy introvert and Will the loud thug with a heart. It’s the supporting cast that deserve credit. Jessica Hynes, usually seen hamming it up in Spaced or Shaun of the Dead, is great as Will’s emotionally torn Mother, trying to juggle her religion with her son’s rebellion. Watch out for Eric Sykes in a cameo role too.

On the surface, this film is merely a coming of age drama about a young boy rebelling against his restrictive elders. But, if you read further into it, you’ll find some clever metaphors. For instance; when the French foreign exchange student, Didier, arrives all the English kids instantly fall in love with his style and fancy clothes, but when he leaves we find out that the other French students laugh at him and think he’s silly. This is a clear message about French Cinema and all the pretensions that go with it. In the end it’s the English kid, Lee Carter, who comes out favourably, showing integrity wins over style.

So, this film has it all then? I’m afraid not. It has one heavy let-down. If anything it’s all a bit too schmaltzy. All the villains are nice guys at heart and soon show their sensitive side. The film climaxes in a heavy dose of saccharine sweet Melodrama that obliterates your suspended disbelief.

Verdict 7/10
Some good ideas, but a bit too feel-good.