The most talked about film of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival finally makes it to theaters this week, ( With a limited release in the US pencilled in for 2nd May 2008 ), and thank god, because this joyous, ridiculously heart - warming comedy deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.. It’s heartwarming without any treacle, it’s hilarious without resorting to cheap gags, and it’s genuine.. Son of Rambow will quickly become a favorite movie of any dork ( Like myself ) who dreamed big as a kid and used movie making as an outlet..

Set in England in the summer of ‘82, it tells the story of Will Proudfoot ( Bill Milner ), an adorable and sad young boy.. His father had a stroke and passed away.. His family belongs to a religion called The Plymouth Brethren, which forbids television, movies, and music of popular culture.. Will has never seen a moving picture in his entire life, but he has a huge imagination and fills the pages of his text books with drawings to the point that you can’t see the text anymore..

Rated: [ PG - 13 ] Some violence and reckless behavior

Cinema release: 2nd May 2008 - USA

4th September 2008 - Australia

Running time: 96 minutes

Stars: Will Poulter, Bill Milner, Jules Sitruk, Charlie Thrift, Jessica Stevenson, Neil Dudgeon, Charlie Elliot 

Fate intervenes when Will encounters Lee Carter ( Will Poulter ).. Carter is the troubled kid in school, always in and out of the principal’s office.. Events bring these two unlikely kids together, with Carter taking advantage of Will’s good nature.. Carter lives in a retirement home ( His mother is never around ) and works for his brother bootlegging movies with his VHS camera.. The latest film to come through town? First Blood.. ( It should be noted the film takes place in the early 80’s )..

Will sees First Blood and his mind is blown.. He and Carter decide to join forces and make a film with the camera and resources they have.. The film Will wants to make? Son of Rambow.. ( Will is unaware of the proper spelling of Rambo ). The two form a friendship making the film, despite the growing consequences of Will’s new passion conflicting with the Brethren’s beliefs, creating much tension between Will and his mother.. ( Jessica Stevenson, from Spaced!)

Eventually, other kids from the school come on board to join these outcasts, most notably the French exchange student that all the other kids think is the coolest.. ( He wants to be a movie star, and even has prop guns ).. Does this drive a rift between Will and Carter? You need to see the film and discover that for yourself..

What makes Son of Rambow so damn good is that even though it’s filled with whimsy, it’s British whimsy, which is always less insulting to your intelligence.. Written and directed by Garth Jennings ( He of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fame ), Son of Rambow has some wonderfully fanciful moments and manages to keep it strictly grounded.. The problems of Carter and Will are very real, which only makes the accomplishment of their filmmaking that more important..

Director Garth Jennings ( Who also directed the massively disappointing film Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy a few years ago, does a MASTERFUL job at brining the story to us.. Jennings based the story on his own preadolescent adventures, and his affection for this time in his own life, and a period in pop culture that influenced him, is evident without seeming self - indulgent.. It’s hard enough to tell a compelling story and bring out good performances with adult professional actors … it’s got to be next to impossible to make a film that is meant to be meaningful, touching, funny and beautiful with almost an exclusively child cast.. But somehow, some way, Jennings does it..

It’s interesting to note the similarities between Son of Rambow and Be Kind Rewind.. Both films center their stories on misfits and outsiders coming together to make a movie for a greater purpose.. And both make tremendous use of the filmmakers’ creative solutions in recreating scenes with the materials available to them.. Where Rambow differs is that the joy stems from the minds of children, where the only limit is their own imaginations..

An inherent drawback of working with child actors is that sometimes emotionally charged scenes can come off a little cheesy or forced.. For the most part Son of Rambow manages for avoid this, but there were 2 or 3 occasions that it does pop its head up.. Aside from that, I have no complaints..

Will and Lee are superbly portrayed by newbies Bill Miller and Will Poulter.. I was surprised to see that both of them haven’t been in that many other films ( Poulter in none actually ), but I’m guessing that after this films is released that’s going to change.. I also loved Will’s innocence.. Especially at the start of the movie there are things that he’s doing that at first glance you just don’t understand.. Then when you find out, you just can’t help but find it cute..

I also have to give a special mention to the visual effects and sound effects.. There aren’t that many ( It’s not that type of movie ), but when they are used it works so well.. For instance, at the start of the movie a group of kids run by, but from the sound of it they seem more like a giant stampede.. Then next to that Will’s daydreaming is brought to life in a very unique type of way ( I won’t explain how otherwise I’ll ruin it )..

Watching it, you can’t help but think of all the lazy afternoons you spent as a kid dreaming of being Indiana Jones or Lt. Ripley, Flash Gordon or Nancy Drew, as the shared world of other people’s stories melded with the unique mix of daydreams and ideas that were yours alone.. Son of Rambow is a great reminder - of joy, of possibility, of youth - and at the same time, it makes you feel like dreams are still possible, and that joy is all around if you’re willing to dare to find it..

This is a definite must - see cinema movie.. It’s the first great movie I’ve seen all year, and one of my favorite of all that I’ve seen.. In contrary to most other movies, Son of Rambow is worth every penny and you’ll come out of the cinema with a smile on your face.. It’s smart, sweet, funny, and above all made with love and affection for these characters.. You want these boys to succeed, and to eventually make Son of Rambow 2.. And I would be first in line to see it.. By the way, stay seated till after the credits.. There’s a little extra you won’t want to miss..

I give Son of Rambow 5 out of 5..