Release Date:
Friday, May 2, 2008
Directed by: Garth Jennings
The Skinny: England, the 1980s. Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) has been raised within a religious sect called the Brethren, which forbids watching TV or movies of any kind. When his school's problem child (Will Poulter) shows him a bootleg copy of First Blood, young Will's mind is forever blown; and the pair sets out to make their own sort-of sequel.
The Good: We'd never use the word "love letter" in a film review because we value our testicles, but Rambow is a hilarious, sweet look at falling in love with movies, and generally just being an awkward 11-year-old boy. But it never crosses over into "cheesy" (how do the Brits manage to always do that?). The two leads (both noobs) don't even seem like they're acting.
The Bad: It slows down about halfway through, just when it should be cranking things up. But the movie does take an unexpectedly dark turn before settling a completely satisfying closer. In other words: Stick with it. It's funny and enjoyable. And where the hell else do you have to be?
Ah, the French: The character of French foreign exchange student Didier Revol may be the greatest '80s creation not actually created in the '80s.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? If you can find a theater playing it (it's likely to get a tiny release), then definitely go.
The Skinny: England, the 1980s. Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) has been raised within a religious sect called the Brethren, which forbids watching TV or movies of any kind. When his school's problem child (Will Poulter) shows him a bootleg copy of First Blood, young Will's mind is forever blown; and the pair sets out to make their own sort-of sequel.
The Good: We'd never use the word "love letter" in a film review because we value our testicles, but Rambow is a hilarious, sweet look at falling in love with movies, and generally just being an awkward 11-year-old boy. But it never crosses over into "cheesy" (how do the Brits manage to always do that?). The two leads (both noobs) don't even seem like they're acting.
The Bad: It slows down about halfway through, just when it should be cranking things up. But the movie does take an unexpectedly dark turn before settling a completely satisfying closer. In other words: Stick with it. It's funny and enjoyable. And where the hell else do you have to be?
Ah, the French: The character of French foreign exchange student Didier Revol may be the greatest '80s creation not actually created in the '80s.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? If you can find a theater playing it (it's likely to get a tiny release), then definitely go.