|
 Son
of Rambow (2007)
R1 / NTSC DVD
Paramount / 2008
Directed by Garth Jennings
Written by Garth Jennings
Cast: Bill Milner, Will Poulter & Jules Sitruk
Review by Brian Harris
Two young boys drawn together by adversity find their wild
imaginations set free while making their own action film
entitled, Son of Rambow.
Son of Rambow? I know what you’re thinking and you’re pretty
much right on point. This film can be described as
“heartwarming,” “an emotional coming-of-age” and a “moving
masterpiece of imagination” and it is indeed a family film
but how can I pass up on a film about two kids filming their
own action flick? How can I pass up on any film in which a
child refers to himself as the “Son of Rambow?” This had no
nudity, barely any cursing and no scenes of real violence
and it still managed to thoroughly entertain me and my
family. It’s full of strength, wonder and hope and I
positively loved it.
The film appears to be set sometime in the early
mid-eighties and our two leads come from very different
worlds: Will’s father has died and his religious mother
struggles to keep him on the straight and narrow and Lee is
a troublemaking tough with an absentee mother and a cruel
brother. It’s completely by accident that these two meet but
as their paths continue to cross, their friendship begins to
grow and they soon establish an unbreakable bond that,
naturally, will be tested to the very limits.
Does Rambo actually appear in this film? Well, no…not unless
you consider clips from First Blood and an old man dressed
in a wig pretending to be Sly “in the film.” Still, Son of
Rambow isn’t just about Rambo but what he stands for to
young Will and, in turn, what Will means to the lonely Lee.
This is an exceptional film by Garth Jennings, a fascinating
indie film with wit, warmth and intelligence. |
