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Son of Rambow
Directed by: Garth Jennings
Starring: Bill Milner
Genre:
Comedy/ Independent
Run Time: 96
min.
Release Date:
May 2008
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Set in the U.K. but based
on Sly Stallone’s Rambo character of the U.S., SON OF RAMBOW
(yes, that’s with a “w”) is a heartwarming tale of friendship
surrounding two characters’ love of film and film making.
These two are Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) and Lee Carter (Will Poulter),
two preteens with significantly different backgrounds. Bill has a rigid
religious family that doesn’t allow him to watch the tele. While Will is
a roughshod kid who has to take care of his family and family’s business
while trying to be a kid. Will is carefree and rebellious while Bill is
reserved. But once the two meet, changes rapidly ensue. Bill has the
chance to see his first action film (RAMBO) and this sets him on
a path more toward Will. But Will sees in Bill the carefulness that he
lacks ...and an actor for his film. Changes to the film are forced onto
Will as Bill’s infatuation with anything Rambo come full-on. New actors
and actresses from their school sign on (including a French foreign
exchange student that the girls are all in lust with) and this drives a
wedge between Bill’s desire to see an authentic kids film and Will’s
need to keep the production hush-hush due to family problems.
Surrounding the film’s production are the religious connotations that
are forced onto Bill by his mother and a man courting his mother who
sees Bill’s rebelliousness as a sign of weakness and ungodliness. Will’s
family business (an elder care home) comes into play in funny and
poignant ways: using the elderly in hilarious skits for the film, and
trying to maintain the place through Will’s mother’s absence and his
brother’s neglect.
The school the two attend also plays a vital part in the story. It is
where Will and Bill meet, discovering that each has very little in
common but eventually learning to share their differences and come
together as friends. Schoolmates who learn about the film build bigger
and brighter sets, even going so far as to find a beat-up old vehicle to
drive in one of the hysterically funny chase scenes.
The script is sheer genius, with plenty to think about and tickle your
funny bone. The two relative unknowns in the title performances are
excellent young actors and will make you stand up and cheer for them in
the end. Director/writer Garth Jennings is probably better known for his
directing of THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (2005) but,
believe me, this one will outlast it in terms of memorability.
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Image from Son of Rambow
DVD cost: $57.66
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
SON OF RAMBOW was the
first film appearance for both main actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter.
Movie Quote: "What
d'you mean you can't swim?"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Son of Rambow
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