Pirate Radio

Name: Pirate Radio
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Music
Released: November 13, 2009
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Philip Seymour Hoffman

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 106 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 106 Ratings

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Pirate Radio

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: November 13, 2009 | R

Starring: Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Summary: Broadcasting live 24/7 from an old tanker anchored in the middle of the North Sea (just beyond British jurisdiction), Radio Rock sends out a vibrant and unifying signal to millions across the nation, ranging in age from wide-eyed pre-teens secretly tuning in long past their bedtimes to everyday people in need of a musical pick-me-up. TheBroadcasting live 24/7 from an old tanker anchored in the middle of the North Sea (just beyond British jurisdiction), Radio Rock sends out a vibrant and unifying signal to millions across the nation, ranging in age from wide-eyed pre-teens secretly tuning in long past their bedtimes to everyday people in need of a musical pick-me-up. The Radio Rock roster, overseen by unflappable station owner (and ship’s captain) Quentin, includes a risk-prone American known only as The Count; mystic deejay royalty Gavin; slyly amorous Dave; idiosyncratic New Zealander Angus; the rarely seen Bob; the aptly named Thick Kevin; lovelorn Simon; ladies’ magnet Mark; shy Harold; reporter News John; and lesbian ship’s cook Felicity. One night in 1966, Quentin’s teenaged godson Carl comes aboard. While Carl harbors romantic aspirations that he hopes will be fulfilled during one of the biweekly visits by Radio Rock’s prettiest fans, he also hopes to find out more about his long-absent father. (Focus Features)

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Director: Richard Curtis

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer

The best of it has the comradely, free-swinging bawdiness of Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H." Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

A tale so raucous, raunchy and punch-drunk with love for the rebellious spirit of rawk -- and so disdainful of those who have tried to squelch it -- that it pretty much negates any claims to objectivity, let alone factuality. In other words, it's not a documentary. Read full review

Connie Ogle

Pirate Radio does what it sets out to do. It rocks. Read full review

Ty Burr

Writer-director Richard Curtis (“Love Actually’’) has made a party, not a movie, and if the party goes on much too long, at least the guests are great company and the host’s taste in music is impeccable. Read full review

Empire Ian Nathan

A mix-tape of successes and failures, perhaps too light for its subject, but a silly, easy watch. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Tries to capture that moment -- complete with air guitar-playing deejays -- and unapologetically rides a wave of nostalgia, but ultimately sinks due to a bloated, watery script. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Witless, tasteless, toothless, pointless, garish, repetitive, obvious, and painfully dull, Pirate Radio is that exceedingly rare film that never, but never puts a foot right. Read full review

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User Reviews

phililq

Nov 30, 2009

I heard nothing about the movie but was there for pirate radio so of course I went. When the film started with my favorite group I was hooked. The ship is a stage with great actors, characters and non stop comical situations and lines.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

SusanW

Nov 14, 2009

Watching this film is like having good, fun sex. A tad uneven but with continually enjoyable, occasionally surprising, predictable in all the best ways, and an amazing afterglow.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Jon

Nov 13, 2009

I loved this film! One of my favourites of the year and the soundtrack is on my ipod. I can't understand the low reviews, I normally use metacritic for all reviews but think the collaborated reviewers have missed the mark here. Rhys Ivans delivers a stunning role and Bill Nighy is I loved this film! One of my favourites of the year and the soundtrack is on my ipod. I can't understand the low reviews, I normally use metacritic for all reviews but think the collaborated reviewers have missed the mark here. Rhys Ivans delivers a stunning role and Bill Nighy is great. Well worth a view.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

JohnMcCartney

Feb 16, 2011

This movie is fun. Listen, no one should go in expecting some kind of brilliant masterpiece, its just a fun little tale with a great soundtrack and a lot of funny moments. It makes me long for the 60s (the time i am most familiar with without having actually lived in it). Great cast too,This movie is fun. Listen, no one should go in expecting some kind of brilliant masterpiece, its just a fun little tale with a great soundtrack and a lot of funny moments. It makes me long for the 60s (the time i am most familiar with without having actually lived in it). Great cast too, PSH, Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Rhys Darby (glad to see him getting more exposure) and without a doubt the clincher, Kenneth Brannagh, as the assassin set out to destroy radio rock. I laughed every single time he called upon **** (Jack Davenport) despite it being somewhat juvenile humor. The soundtrack is obviously phenomenal... HOWEVER

The soundtrack is also a bit inconsistent with history. Being a huge 60s/70s music buff, plenty of songs written and released after 1966 (the date of the film) were used. Songs like Jumpin Jack Flash or Elenore (The Turtles) were written and released in 1968. One scene refers to a new track by The Grateful Dead who didn't come out with their debut album till 1967. The complete absence of The Beatles (except for a little mention in the beginning) is a bit disconcerting, considering they were bigger than jesus at the time. But I accept the fact that there was probably not an awful lot of consideration put into the soundtrack. I mean, a sound track from the 60s is going to be good no matter what, but it seems like they just kind of threw in all kinds of random rock songs from any period of the 60s whether before or after the moment the movie takes place.

Overall though, it is enjoyable… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JamesH

Jun 25, 2010

The music is great and it is a fun and entertaining movie. It is lacking a much needed spark however. It doesn't develop the characters enough and there are a few to many slow patches as well. It's a good concept, but it does wear thin after while and loses steam halfway through. The music is great and it is a fun and entertaining movie. It is lacking a much needed spark however. It doesn't develop the characters enough and there are a few to many slow patches as well. It's a good concept, but it does wear thin after while and loses steam halfway through. Very well acted by all and the score makes it worth watching.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GaryH

May 2, 2010

Great soundtrack but did not capture the feel of that time period. First giveaway was a line near the beginning of the movie, "Think outside the box." That phrase was never used until the '90s. Seems like it was written by a 30 year old who had no idea what he was doing.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

SusannahJ.

Nov 15, 2009

Maybe the worst movie I have ever seen, considering my disappointment level. The writing was appalling...didn't at all capture an era I was around for...lazy, stupid...what happened to Curtis, whose films I usuallly love (actually)?

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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