Son Of Rambow

Acclaimed comedy, set in the early 1980s, about two mismatched schoolfriends who decide to make a film. Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) is the ten-year-old son of a fatherless Plymouth Brethren family. The Brethren regard themselves as God’s ‘chosen ones’ and their strict moral code means that Will has never mixed with the other ‘worldlies’, listened to music or watched television. Then he meets Lee Carter (Will Poulter), school terror and budding auteur. Lee exposes Will to a pirate copy of ‘Rambo: First Blood’ and, from that moment, Will’s world is changed forever. When Lee tells Will that he wants to make a home movie version of the violent action film for an upcoming amateur film competition, the newly rebellious Will jumps at the chance to be actor and stuntman. As the summer rolls on the two boys set out to create the ultimate no-budget blockbuster, but their grand vision is threatened when Didier Revol (Jules Sitruk), the leader of a group of French exchange students, attempts to hijack proceedings… The clue to what Son Of Rambow is about is all in the title, minus that W, of course (which presumably keeps the lawyers at bay). For its the story of two young boys who, after watching Sylvester Stallone in action, decide that they can make a home movie addition to the Rambo saga, and ultimately set about to do just that. This proves to be an inspired platform for one of the best British comedies of recent years. Directed by Garth Jennings (who also helmed the big screen adaptation of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy), Son Of Rambow is actually at heart the exploration of a friendship between two young boys in the 1980s, and the highs and lows that go along with it. Most, but not all, of the chuckles come from the reimagining of Rambo (replete with stunts and plenty of action), but Son Of Rambow also packs in some poignant, affecting drama without ever feeling like its in any way overstaying its welcome. And with a musical backing that catches the flavour of the 80s pretty much perfectly, this is a treat of a movie, and a very British one at that. Dont miss it. –Jon Foster