Son of Rambow (2008)
Directed by Garth Jennings
***
It's cute, but it's not great. Despite a fun homespun story and an adorable lead actor, that's the reaction this movie left me with. Set over a 1980s summer, this British indie follows young William through several new friendships and one adventurous, fearless home movie. I will admit, this is the first time I have ever seen a Plymouth Brethren family portrayed on film, and their determined minimalism felt positively real, graciously unique. So when William rejects his unimaginative family for a make-believe world and the chance to act in the stunt-heavy "Son of Rambow", we're not exactly sure what we're supposed to be feeling. Though it has its endearing moments, the film presents us with real-life complexity but ultimately leaves us with little more than cuteness.
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