Camden New Journal - Movies: Son of Rambow

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The Review - AT THE MOVIES with WILLIAM HALL
Published: 3 April 2008

Bill Milner and Will Poulter shooting their own film in Son Of Rambow

Sly and mighty movie makers!

SON OF RAMBOW
Directed by Garth Jennings
Certificate PG

IF there’s a Just William for the 21st century, then step over here and meet him.
Born for mischief, freckled and pugnacious young Lee (Will Poulter) is the school terror whose hobby is making bizarre home movies.
“That devil child!” says one teacher despairingly in the common room, to a general chorus of assent.
Armed with a video camera and big ambitions, Lee – aged all of 10 – is attempting to make a home movie in homage to his hero Rambo and its star Sylvester Stallone.
He ropes in another youngster, Will (Bill Milner), a shy loner who has led a sheltered life with a strict religious upbringing.
Behind his glasses he’s a bit of a recluse, but after Lee shows his protégé a pirate copy of the original Rambo film his life changes on the spot.
Will is hooked. He agrees to be the stuntman on his chum’s movie, emulating his hero in action – including a truly nerve-jangling scene with a crossbow reminiscent of William Tell and that apple on his son’s head that will have audiences gripping the arms of their seats.
Set in suburban England in 1982 and starring two hitherto unknowns, this is a hilarious and often moving adventure as the pair struggle to complete their action-packed movie – even if the action isn’t always necessarily what they want it to be.
Will swings on a rope over a river – and drops into it, remembering too late that he can’t swim. They make their studio in a run-down mill – which promptly collapses around their ears.
Predictably, the lads, by now sporting a load of bumps and bruises, make a name for themselves in the school.
But when their fame spreads further, artistic differences arise with a clash of egos as they face the massive popularity that overwhelms them.
Peppered with visual gags, here’s a little gem that made me laugh out loud.
I’ll take bets that you will, too.

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