Son of Rambow
Paramount Vantage | Release Date: May 2, 2008
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
29
Mixed:
7
Negative:
4
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
GrantP.Apr 28, 2008
Completely unexpected, I loved this movie. Good story, very funny, cute, and overall very enjoyable.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
Clockwork_SatanMay 2, 2008
I loved ever single minute of this movie. It mostly avoids the traps of becoming overly sentimental or whimsical and delivers some brilliant belly laughs, the characters are very likeable and, most of all, it made me feel like a kid again.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
ChadS.May 24, 2008
The Brethren is a Christian group(sometimes known as Brothers and Sisters), or cult, whose ascetic members have been known to eat out of dumpsters, and own not a single worldly possession to their names. Will(Bill Milner) and his mother are The Brethren is a Christian group(sometimes known as Brothers and Sisters), or cult, whose ascetic members have been known to eat out of dumpsters, and own not a single worldly possession to their names. Will(Bill Milner) and his mother are full-fledged cultists, but they live in a house with all the trimmings of domesticity. That's because the Proudfoots are Christians masquerading as faux-Christians. That's why "Son of Rambow" gets away with positioning John Rambo as being a better influence on Will, than God. "Son of Rambow" is quiet, unassuming, but pay attention, and a revenge pic against the church will emerge out of the sentimental ether. Will defaces the Bible, and a bathroom wall, with his cinematic-inspired graffiti. "Son of Rambow", cheekily, equates the holy book with holy s***. Here is a film that's tired of the church blaming Hollywood for everything under the sun. The violence in "First Blood" doesn't turn Will into a killer. Since all religions are patriarchial-based, when the mother finally takes a stand against the "cult" leader, "Son of Rambow" reveals a second streak, a feminist streak, which is all part of the film's concentrated, but covert agenda to subvert the feel-good picture with a pointed attack on theology and its practicing religious institutions, by using a doleful, quiet boy as its agent, to create some post-punk anarchy in the U.K.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
TomM.Nov 13, 2008
An unusual flick, to say the least. Initially, it took some doing to make head or tail out of what was going on, but eventually the thing charmed me right out of my seat, and despite the difficulties I had deciphering some very thick British An unusual flick, to say the least. Initially, it took some doing to make head or tail out of what was going on, but eventually the thing charmed me right out of my seat, and despite the difficulties I had deciphering some very thick British accents.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
GregG.Apr 29, 2008
I saw this movie at Sundance 07 and have told everyone I know about it for a long time. They are finally going to get to see it. This movie is a Stand Up and Cheer movie. I cannot wait to see it again!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
SamMay 1, 2008
Thank you Tom and 66goat. You're proof that people that dislike Cloverfield can have a brain. Because, besides yours, some of the complaints I've seen from some of the haters are absolutely horrendous. 1. 'There was no real Thank you Tom and 66goat. You're proof that people that dislike Cloverfield can have a brain. Because, besides yours, some of the complaints I've seen from some of the haters are absolutely horrendous. 1. 'There was no real storyline.' There wasn't supposed to be. It's people running through New York City, running from a monster. You're supposed to feel like you're in the attack, not following a plot. If anything, there was too much plot. 2. 'The Monster shot fireballs!' Whoever posted that is an idiot. It didn't shoot fireballs, it was throwing around exploding debris. 3. 'ZOMG, TOO MUCH SHAKING'. Being chased by a monster. In New York City. With little creatures falling off it. Personally, I'd be running like Hell, and if I'm holding a camera while running like Hell, I'd imagine it'd be shaking quite a bit. 4. The end sucked...it kept you hanging. Yeah. It was supposed to. It kept possibilities open for a sequel and speculation. 5. The Spider things just appeared out of nowhere! ....they fell off the monster. Their origin is unclear because the MOVIE IS THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVE OF 20 SOMETHINGS AT A PARTY. SORRY THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THE ORIGINS OF A 30 STORY MONSTER THAT ATTACKS WITH LITTLE WARNING.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
MannieF.Sep 18, 2008
the movie is long and dull...and if it makes u laugh at some point, its because u r plain stupid
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
aaNov 17, 2008
Quite possibly THE WORST movie I have ever seen. How child could sit though the agonizingly boring plot I don't know.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
DanH.May 28, 2008
Very funny. I was very surprised. It's one of the year's best.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
JayH.Aug 22, 2008
Sweet film that is wonderfully acted and has a very powerful and moving story. Garth Jennings direction is very loving and perceptive. Great job, memorable film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
drlowdonMay 25, 2013
Eleven year old Will, sheltered from the outside world as part of a religious group known as the Plymouth Brethren has never seen a movie before. When his new found friend, school trouble-maker Lee Carter, shows him Rambo: First Blood the twoEleven year old Will, sheltered from the outside world as part of a religious group known as the Plymouth Brethren has never seen a movie before. When his new found friend, school trouble-maker Lee Carter, shows him Rambo: First Blood the two set out to make their own movie, inspired by the Stallone classic.

The pairs attempt to create their own stunts are certainly humorous, if not exactly laugh out loud funny, but it is the pairs friendship that is really at the heart of the movie. Bill Milner and Will Poulter are excellent throughout ensuring it never becomes overly melodramatic and Jules Sitruk brings extra doses of comedy as the leather clad foreign exchange student.

Son of Rambow is certainly not a film that will have you creasing up with laughter but as the end credits role it is difficult not to feel good.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
A_NorthernerAug 30, 2012
Why did you watch it?
I saw a few scenes from this film a while back on TV and found them light hearted and amusing so asked to borrow it on DVD from a friend.
Tell me about it. Son of Rambow tells the story of two young boys growingWhy did you watch it?
I saw a few scenes from this film a while back on TV and found them light hearted and amusing so asked to borrow it on DVD from a friend.

Tell me about it.
Son of Rambow tells the story of two young boys growing up in the 80's, William and Lee, who become firm friends while making a Rambo-inspired home movie full of self-performed stunts and childish violence. The boys are polar opposites at first, William's family belong to a strict and traditional religious brethren, so strict that William is not even allowed to watch TV for documentaries at school, while Lee is the school's worst behaved child. Despite their differences, the pair become friends by chance and both appreciate each others company, Lee's renegade behaviour gives William experiences outside of the brethren (perhaps none more so than watching Rambo: First Blood) while Lee finds a kindred spirit to overcome his loneliness at home.

Should I watch it?
Creating a film about a pair of schoolchildren's recreation of Rambo certainly scores points for originality. As I mentioned before, the light hearted and amusing in places and would be suitable for adults and children alike. The young actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter are excellent and are supported well by a small cast.
The writers take inspiration from a range of films, not just Rambo, with the scarecrow in the field and French exchange student Didier coolly lighting his cigarette in church coming to mind. As a throwback to the 80's the film is excellent, catchphrases, clothes and music are all spot on. Just like J.J Abrams recent Super 8, hopefully Rambow will inspire a generation of young filmmakers.
Son of Rambow is a quirky and original British comedy-drama, which suffers from being a little too sweet in places towards the end but more than makes up for it with great acting and humorous moments.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
loki-sfNov 3, 2013
The theme of this story is really good. Unfortunately it is only accomplished through excessive unnecessary foul language, random violence and drug use. Content which could had been avoided without compromising the experience of the movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
8
DawdlingPoetNov 22, 2021
I thought the movie showed the imagination of young children well. You could tell that the two boys were bored with their pretty strict (family and school wise) surroundings.

Family life is pretty rotten for them and I think they are reallyI thought the movie showed the imagination of young children well. You could tell that the two boys were bored with their pretty strict (family and school wise) surroundings.

Family life is pretty rotten for them and I think they are really quite lonely, though they don't admit it.

It is quite a funny movie in parts, some of the stuff the boys do while filming the video, lets just say they do get carried away with one particular scene involving a a teacher getting rudely interupted that sticks in mind. There's a fair amount of 80s nostalgia present in the movie too, with a disco taking place at one stage in the movie.

I thought the boys gave great performances as William and Lee, I certainly felt sorry for William and I laughed alongside them too. In the end though, the movie becomes quite moving and you really feel for the characters.

I think there is an underlying message about rising above bullies and such things not being as they first seem or that people would like them to be, which I guess is a good message or a realistic message to give out to teenagers who see the movie but most of all I think its probably a movie that most people can relate to in one way or another, it might lead you to reminiscing about your childhood, the school friends you had and the ideas you had and what you got up to etc.

On the negative side, some may feel that the ending is perhaps a bit unlikely but really otherwise, I thought that it seemed quite believable and that its a good quality British cult movie.

Yes, I'd recommend this movie as I thought it was a good sentimental movie with both funny and touching moments. As I've already said, this is a movie that most people should be able to relate to and if your looking for some nostalgia from the early 1980s, you get a bit of that too. Its not majorly laugh out loud material but its worth seeing all the same, as a movie that may make you think back to your own past childhood friendships and the happy times you may well have had when your imagination knew no bounds. The acting is good and the story is interesting, this is a good movie worth seeing.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
RobwinzAug 2, 2020
Son of Ranbow, the movie's got a great plot. It's pretty much about these two lads from the same school, one of them being a Christian who's quite shy and the other being a school bully. These two come together and make a homemade Rambo movieSon of Ranbow, the movie's got a great plot. It's pretty much about these two lads from the same school, one of them being a Christian who's quite shy and the other being a school bully. These two come together and make a homemade Rambo movie with inspiration from Rambo: First Blood.

It's actually pretty good and the emotions which this movie's got work very well and they're built up quite well when they happen throughout this movie.

Overall, Son Of Ranbow is a really good movie. The movie's got a great plot, very good acting, brilliant dialogue and there's a lot of heart throughout this movie which is honestly built up very well.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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