If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

I wanted to but couldn't!

Best movie ever!

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

A complicated and uneven weave of almost unrelated scenes makes this story of boyhood friendship difficult to enjoy.The film is owned by Will Poulter, the talented terror of his school. Without him, this would have been unwatchable. How talented is he? Well, almost at the end of the film we see him as he acts being an actor in his own home-made film. That few seconds of genius sealed the deal for me.Other actors do their bit and for viewers of a certain age (like me) it was great fun to see Eric Sykes turn in a cameo as a hapless patient in an old people's home. Yeah, Google the name, kids... he was once 'the' face of good-natured family entertainment on British television in a bygone era.The school common room scene is worth rewinding for, but unfortunately, much of the film is forgettable as it twists and turns the viewer into too many directions at once. This has the effect of thinning the impact of what should have been the peripheral but important characters of the show.It's only after the common room scene that the film slows down long enough for the message of the story to start to reveal itself. But by then we're an hour in and it's too late.The whole daft side-angle of the French exchange students should have been abandoned in favour of time spent on the two boys, their developing friendship, their families and backgrounds.In addition, the director and editors have forced us to guess what's happening as key events are glossed over during the fragmented, rapid-fire collage of scenes. Finally, the 'tie-ups' at the end are hurried, unrealistic and contrived. There are dozens of adoring and excited reviews for this film here and mine will be buried at the back somewhere... but I can't help thinking that there's something a bit suspicious about many of them. You'd think that this was The Godfather or something!C-. Must try harder!

Garth Jennings' entertaining film, 'Son of Rambow', is a sprightly comedy that tells the story of two boys who set out to make their own sequel to Sylvester Stallone's bloodthirsty hit. The movie's charm lies in the fact that their vision is both fantastic and yet falls within, just, the range of the possible; and a strain of class struggle provides some slightly darker context. There's also (less originally) a religious brotherhood and an androgynous French visitor to add to the mix. Although more professional than the boys' fictional film, there's an enthusiastic (almost amateurish) feeling to 'Son of Rambow', and I've seen films with young actors who've given stronger performances. But it's still a hard film not to enjoy.

Will Proudfoot and Lee Carter may attend to same school but they are very different; Will is a member of the Plymouth Brethren who isn't even allowed to watch television and Lee is the school hooligan. One day while Will is sitting in the corridor while the rest of his class watch a documentary Lee is thrown out of his class and gets into an altercation with Will. They are sent to see the headmistress and Lee offers to take all the blame (and torture!) if Will agrees to be the stuntman in the film he is making. And so begins their friendship. While at Lee's house he sees a pirated copy of 'First Blood' and his mind is well and truly blown. He comes up with the idea of making the film 'Son of Rambo(w) and soon he and Lee are getting in more scrapes as they get filming. Meanwhile a group of French students visit their school and one of them, Didier, is rather popular. When he reads Will's script he wants to be in the film; soon Will is suddenly popular but his friendship with Lee is in jeopardy.This film was an utter delight; the two young leads, Bill Milner and Will Poulter, were great as Will and Lee. The characters are likable which is a bit of a surprised as Lee starts off as a bully. The story is pretty simple but that is the charm of it. There are plenty of laughs to be had but there are also some poignant moments. Having been a teenager in the eighties there was a degree of nostalgia but it certainly isn't necessary to have been around then to enjoy this; I'm sure today's youngsters would enjoy it too! Likewise while it will probably be more fun if you've seen 'First Blood' it isn't essential… which is good as that film really isn't suitable for younger viewers who would enjoy this. Overall I'd say this is a fin film that can be enjoyed by older children (there is some swearing which parents might not want younger children hearing) and adults alike.

Son of Rambow is an incredible film. It is so fresh and full of energy. It is about a boy, Will Proudfoot, from a strict Plymouth Brethren family getting to know a young rebel, Lee Carter, from his school and being suddenly introduced to things he has no knowledge of. The boys friendship creates problems for Will with his family and church.What the film does very well is getting the viewer to understand the mindset of the two boys; we see things through their eyes. This is made possible by the two young actors who play Will and Lee. They are exceptionally good and make the characters completely believable and sympathetic. The actor of Lee, Will Poulta is particularly impressive. Because we are seeing events through their eyes events and situations are often exaggerated yet still appear natural.The film has a lot to say about friendship and family but perception and reputation are also major themes (how perceptions differ and reputations form). There is a subplot with a french exchange student which I thought was very apt.It is touching, uplifting and has many very funny moments.