Son of Rambow - Review

Review
We all remember growing up and not being allowed to do this or that, how cut off and removed we seemed and how unfair it all felt. Well, Son of Rambow is about that restriction (multiplied to the extreme), and friendship, and growth and eventually realisation.

Will is such a child, his religious beliefs (well, his families) mean he is protected and restricted to what he is exposed to. However, he is exposed - and to all things, First Blood - which is the kindle to Will's overactive imagination fire.

The plot is faultless, it sets the scene of poor Will and the extreme religious conditions he lives in very early on, and then catapults the audience and Will himself into Carter (who reminded me of Kes), the boy who has no limitations and no restrictions. He lacks guidance but eventually becomes an idol of Will's.

This film is funny, hilarious even - in parts - and then, like it's subject matter, will deliver an out-of-nowhere emotional sucker-punch to the ribs and leave you touched and shocked; these are children yet their friendship and respect is something I fail to see in adults sometimes.

The Son of Rambow questions what it means to be loved and idolized, and even if you are both loved and idolized by one group of people; that won't always make you happy. The experiences of these children show the audience that it is just as important to love as it is to be loved.

It's only downfall is it's limitations; there were times I just wanted the film to get back to the screen-test between Will and Carter (both excellently portrayed), and even though the over-arcing purpose of this story applied to more than merely Will and Carter, it didn't have the same emotional clamp around my heart as it did for them; it even felt out of place and over done.

Although I'm not educated in Wills religion (Brethren) it seemed to have it's name dragged through the mud a little. If all Brethren are like this - and they may all well be - then I have no problem with it. But if they're not, then, well... Lets just say the Brethren have very few redeeming features in this film.

Verdict
I think the majority of the family will enjoy this film; there's something here for everyone, to a point... However, once the final third of the film hits, you will become aware of it's theme. An enjoyable theme, yes, but one that may not entertain all.

4/5