Jon Peters Reviews: “Son of Rambow (DVD)”

The Film:

Sometimes I wish I could go back to being impressionable, like when I was a kid and seeing ‘Star Wars’ or ‘King Kong’ for the first time. I remember coming home after seeing ‘Robocop II’ and walking, talking, and acting like Robocop. We sometimes forget how impressionable kids are and how movies can inspire. I surely would be a different person if I hadn’t been exposed to film. Luckily, Garth Jennings hadn’t forgotten and wrote a love ode to that time frame in our lives with ‘Son of Rambow’.

Remember ‘Be Kind Rewind’? This is the movie that it wanted to be. Jennings must have been itching to do a smaller film after the headache that was for him ‘Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’. It’s readily apparent as he fuses his wild imagination with a strong story, adding moments of low tech thrills when Will’s imagination runs wild to heartfelt friendship. While I can’t say that ‘First Blood’ was a movie that changed me, but Jennings was clearly influenced and showcases why movies can inspire. It could’ve been any film, but in the end it doesn’t matter because despite its title and the story arc of filming a sequel to ‘First Blood’, Jennings adds more to the film than you’d think.

The character of Will is a member of a religious sect called Plymouth Brethren, a rather strict faith. He’s unable to partake in watching videos in class, having friends outside of the religion, and cannot really be a kid. It’s the type of dedicated religion that a kid is almost unable to understand why and rebels against it for that reason. So when he first sees ‘First Blood’, it just one of those things that sets him free. It’s a feeling hard to describe but you know the feeling, we all have had it a few times in our lives when we were young. The movie allowed him to come to terms with his death of his father and rebel against the Brethren.

For Lee Carter, ‘First Blood’ acts as a friend to him, one that doesn’t quickly disregard him like his mother or brother has. He rebels in school because he is lonely and wants attention. With no guidance, what else could you expect?

Mixing those deep subtexts with laughs is one of the highlights of the film. The other highlight is the chemistry between the young actors. It’s natural and not forced something that’s rare in films but when you see it, it just adds so much to the film. You quickly embrace them and due to their newness in the acting business, they channel themselves with unexpected laughs and tears.

The film does become predictable in the third act, with your standard ‘everything’s fine’ ending. I think Jennings forced the resolution to Lee and his brother and his distance to him. But these never trip up the film. Just because you could predict some of the film, Jennings has created a truly fun, heartwarming film about movies and friendship, one that never forces a smile or a tear. They come natural.

The DVD:

Audio/video: The transfer is amazing for SDVD standards now days, so expect above average detail, with a crisp color reproduction. The audio is pretty front heavy; even the rear activity is limited. While it’s not that type of film, the bass is not as sharp and there’s noting happening in the overall range of the mix.

Commentary: The director is joined with the producer and the two young stars and this track is just for fun. Little filmmaking info is giving, as they are keener on messing around and having a good time, than talk technical. Perhaps having a second track with just Jennings would’ve been better for those eager to know more about the little production.

‘Son of Rambow’ making-of: nearly a half an hour long, this track offers no new info that the commentary, so use this if you’re not a commentary person, otherwise, it’s decent enough but hardly film school material.

‘Aron’: Jennings short he made as a precursor to ‘Son of Rambow’. Decent; I like when they include shorts on the disc, good or bad.

Trailer and a contest winner short round out these slim extras.

I was hoping for more extras, but the film makes up for it. Just remember if you are buying it, that the disc is a Best buy exclusive. I can recommend the film warmly enough, despite lame extras.