Monday 7th April

Son of Rambow - (UK)

Director - Garth Jennings

Cast - Bill Milner, Will Poulter, Jessica Stephenson...

* * * * *

Son of Rambow is a charming family film. One that is refreshing to see in this age of political correctness and over the top special effects. It is very much in the ilk of Stand by Me and The Goonies and attempts to show a childhood that is full of excitement, danger and companionship.

The two young outcasts, Bill Milner and Will Poulter respectively, who decide to make their own follow up to Stallone’s Rambo: First Blood are terrific. As is the style of the film, shot with inventiveness and a keen eye for detail by ‘Hammer and Tongs’ duo Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith. The film really takes off when the two youngsters are actually in the process of making the film. This is where Jennings can really focus on the idealism of childhood, the naivety and affirming way in which they can escape into their own magical world, leaving the troubles of the real world.

The real world, however, is where Son of Rambow struggles. The family dynamics are painted with very broad strokes and at times, the movie falls in to sentimentality. The ending in particular, feels a little trite.

That being said, this is fairly enjoyable stuff and it is great to see a family film that has its heart firmly in the right place.