When you watch as many DVDs as I do, the bad ones are forgotten quickly and the good one tend to linger in your mind for awhile. I remember being in a movie theater sometime around May of this year (oddly, I can’t recall the feature I saw that day), where I saw a preview of Garth Jennings’ Son of Rambow. The film looked funny, sweet and intriguing. Unfortunately, the film never made it to any of the theaters in my area. I made a mental note to snap up a review copy of the DVD, when the opportunity came across my desk.
Son of Rambow is easily one of those DVDs that belong in the good pile. Son of Rambow sort of reminds me of Stand by Me, both are films starring kids, but the stories are destined to resonate with adults. Kids will likely find some laughs, buts it’s the now thirty-something adults who imitated Rambo in their backyards and dressed up like him for Halloween, that will enjoy it the most.
Set in an English village in the mid-1980s, Son of Rambow is a story about the difficulties (and the fun) of growing up. 11-year-old Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) is a creative kid. He’s a sketch artist and a cartoonist, but his family is members of the Plymouth Brethren which forbids music, television, movies or dancing. Into his life comes Lee (Will Poulter), the school bully, who takes a liking to Will. Initially, Will’s plan is to get his new friend to help him create a stunt video to send in to a BBC filmmaking contest. However, when Will gets a look at a bootleg copy of Rambo: First Blood, the boy is immediately entranced by the visuals, and the boys set off to make Son of Rambow. The project gives Lee a creative outlet for his disobedient side and provides Will with a way to deal with his sadness over losing his father and the rigidness of his religion.
Rambow (misspelled in the heat of Will’s enthusiasm) is a wonderful merging of edgy comedy and jolts of wild imagination. Will enacts death defying stunts: He catapults high into the air, and swings on a rope to drop into a lake, neglecting to tell Lee that he can’t swim. The special effects are put together from assorted household items, purloined booty, and Will’s sketches and flip-book animation.
Will and Lee are initially concerned when a busload of French exchange students descend on their school. However, a boy named Didier (Jules Sitruk) quickly gains their admiration. Taller and older, Didier quickly takes charge of their indie production and their lives. With Didier’s arrival, Will and Lee find their little film and their special friendship, pushed quite literally, to the breaking point.
Son of Rambow is a delightful story about the power of friendship and the need for creativity. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance festival to rave reviews. Throughout that year, it went on to be screened at Newport Beach, Seattle International, Toronto International, Glasgow and the 51st BFI London Film Festivals. In May of 2008, Son of Rambow had a limited theatrical run in the United States. I encourage everyone who remembers growing up in the 1980’s to check out this DVD. Son of Rambow is a delightful fantasy, full of laughs and an unforgettable triumph of the heart.
The 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen picture is clean and clear. Most of the film is dialogue driven, thus the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround does the trick. There is also a Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track, plus English, Spanish and French subtitles.
There aren’t too many special features, but the DVD does have a few. Commentary with Director Garth Jennings, Producer Nick Goldsmith, and Cast Members Bill Milner and Will Poulter – This is a fun commentary track. The boys are so young and fresh in the acting world, and the creators are watching their second big movie. As a special treat, even the boys’ moms come in and give their thoughts for a little bit. Every fan will enjoy this track, and it is certainly worth a listen.
Boys Will Be Boys: The Making of Son of Rambow (26:04) – Goldsmith, Jennings, Milner and Poulton sit at a table (in a room on their boat offices) and discuss the film; their discussion is highlighted by fantastic behind-the-scenes footage from the set.
Garth’s Short Film “Aron” (10:47) – The inspiration for Son of Rambow. This is a young Jennings production from (what I guess to be) the mid-80s. It’s a home movie starring the neighborhood kids.
Son of Rambow Website Winner (5:04) – The creators held a contest online in which amateur filmmakers were encouraged to submit a 5-minute action movie. The Dunn family won the contest with this brilliant espionage thriller.
Son of Rambow can be purchased exclusively at Best Buy.
