Review: Son Of Rambow

Liam — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:34:15 +0000

Okay, score a million points for the most adorable movie EVER. I’m sorry, but nothing is cuter than a couple of little British children. Not even kittens. I’ve always said that I want to have red-headed British children (exactly how I was to go about ensuring this, I don’t know), but, sod it, wrap up the two main characters in this movie and I’ll take them to go. Thanks.

Lee Carter is a young troublemaker and Will Proudfoot (I wonder if the movie’s writer was a fan of Lord of the Rings?) is a member of the Plymouth Brethren, a religious sect closely related to the Amish so conservative that he’s not even allowed to watch educational programs during school because they’re on TV. The two seem an unlikely duo, yet they strike up a friendship based on their wanting to make their own version of Rambo’s First Blood.

Will’s imagination explodes after seeing scenes from the movie, something he would have never experienced had he not been with Lee. He was already one to let his imagination take him places he wanted to go, living in such a strict household, and covered every available surface around him with drawings, including all of the pages of his Bible. All he needed was the catalyst, and there was no stopping him in his persuit for more.

Lee, on the other hand, lives with his brother in the rear of a nursing facility, their mother off in Spain with the establishment’s proprietor. They have no one to answer to but themselves, and his brother, Lawrence (hottie Ed Westwick, who also plays the womanizing schmoozer Chuck Bass on the hit TV show Gossip Girl… you’d never guess from his drawling tone that he was British!), is the only person Lee has in the world until Will comes along.

Not only is this movie adorable, as previously mentioned, but surprisingly witty. It had my theatre audience cracking up right from the off and lasted throughout the duration. From Lee’s sarcastic quips to Will’s determined attempts to pull off stunts for the movie (including falling from a tree using an umbrella as a parachute, and standing in front of a high powered sprinkler and being blasted backwards off his feet), this movie never leaves you wanting.

Newcomers Bill Milner (Will) and Will Poulter (Lee) absolutely steal the show on this one, and they have built a foundation with this movie to lead them onto more roles. Here’s hoping they get them!

On the surface it’s a comedic buddy flick, but at its core is a heartwarming story of friendship against the odds. Their relationship was never supposed to work, with forces drawing them apart at every turn, yet they manage to endure.

Really, quite a brilliant little movie. I’ve read that it’s only opening in limited release, so check your local listings to see if it’ll be playing near you, it’s really worth it: 9/10.

(I’m including the trailer and a clip of the movie below, since I’m sure none of you have seen them!)

Here is how Will and Lee meet for the first time:

Filmonic » Son of Rambow

Review: Son Of Rambow